title: Can We Selectively Reduce Appetite for Energy-Dense Foods? An Overview of Pharmacological Strategies for Modification of Food Preference Behavior.
abstract: Excessive intake of food, especially palatable and energy-dense carbohydrates and fats, is largely responsible for the growing incidence of obesity worldwide. Although there are a number of candidate antiobesity drugs, only a few of them have been proven able to inhibit appetite for palatable foods without the concurrent reduction in regular food consumption. In this review, we discuss the interrelationships between homeostatic and hedonic food intake control mechanisms in promoting overeating with palatable foods and assess the potential usefulness of systemically administered pharmaceuticals that impinge on the endogenous cannabinoid, opioid, aminergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic systems in the modification of food preference behavior. Also, certain dietary supplements with the potency to reduce specifically palatable food intake are presented. Based on human and animal studies, we indicate the most promising therapies and agents that influence the effectiveness of appetite-modifying drugs. It should be stressed, however, that most of the data included in our review come from preclinical studies; therefore, further investigations aimed at confirming the effectiveness and safety of the aforementioned medications in the treatment of obese humans are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Pathophysiology, Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, 60 Narutowicza Street, 90-136 Lodz, Poland. ewa.bojanowska@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bojanowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ciosek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D009479:Neuropeptides