The Gut as an Endocrine Organ: Role in the Regulation of Food Intake and Body Weight.
Obesity and its related complications remain a major threat to public health. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of obesity are of paramount importance in improving population health. Through these efforts, our appreciation of the role of gut-derived hormones in the management of body weight has evolved and manipulation of this system serves as the basis for our most effective obesity interventions.


OBJECTIVE
We review current understanding of the enteroendocrine regulation of food intake and body weight, focusing on therapies that have successfully embraced the physiology of this system to enable weight loss.


RESULTS
In addition to the role of gut hormones in the regulation of energy homeostasis, our understanding of the potential influence of enteroendocrine peptides in food reward pathways is evolving. So too is the role of gut derived hormones on energy expenditure. Gut-derived hormones have the ability to alter feeding behavior. Certain obesity therapies already manipulate this system; however, our evolving understanding of the effects of enteroendocrine signals on hedonic aspects of feeding and energy expenditure may be crucial in identifying future obesity therapies.
Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Audrey
A
Melvin
Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|Investigative Science, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Carel W
CW
le Roux
Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. neil.docherty@ucd.ie.
Neil G
NG
Docherty
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004703:Endocrine System; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones
Endocrine; Gut peptides; Obesity; Weight loss