Hormonal
Ghrelin levels are inversely correlated with body fat mass, being suppressed in obesity and elevated in states of negative energy balance such as anorexia nervosa or low-calorie diets.
Your body produces less of the 'hunger hormone' (ghrelin) when you are obese, likely as a response to high caloric intake. However, this does not mean you are immune to hunger. When you lose weight, ghrelin levels rise, which may increase your appetite as your body tries to regain weight.
In human obesity, the ghrelin concentration is low, which may be related to the high caloric intake, whereas a reduction in body weight in obese patients brings the ghrelin concentration up.
Why this rating
The review synthesizes multiple studies showing consistent trends in ghrelin levels across different populations (obese, anorexic, post-surgery).
Source
Endocrine Regulation of Energy Metabolism: Review of Pathobiochemical and Clinical Chemical Aspects of Leptin, Ghrelin, Adiponectin, and Resistin
Ursula Meier et al. · Clinical Chemistry · 2004
DOI 10.1373/clinchem.2004.032482
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