title: Determinants of body weight regulation in humans.
abstract: Body weight is regulated by the ability of hypothalamic neurons to orchestrate behavioral, endocrine and autonomic responses via afferent and efferent pathways to the brainstem and the periphery. Weight maintenance requires a balance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Although several components that participate in energy homeostasis have been identified, there is a need to know in more detail their actions as well as their interactions with environmental and psychosocial factors in the development of human obesity. In this review, we examine the role of systemic mediators such as leptin, ghrelin and insulin, which act in the central nervous system by activating or inhibiting neuropeptide Y, Agouti-related peptide protein, melanocortin, transcript related to cocaine and amphetamine, and others. As a result, modifications in energy homeostasis occur through regulation of appetite and energy expenditure. We also examine compensatory changes in the circulating levels of several peripheral hormones after diet-induced weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Milene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moehlecke
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luis Henrique
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Canani
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lucas Oliveira Junqueira E
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirurgia, HCPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Manoel Roberto Maciel
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rogerio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Bauermann
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Leitão
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism