Hormonal
Ghrelin acts as an orexigenic signal by binding to GHSR on AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus, stimulating NPY and AGRP expression and increasing food intake and adiposity.
Ghrelin is your body's 'hunger hormone,' released by the stomach when empty. It signals the brain to eat. In obesity, ghrelin levels are often lower than expected, yet hunger persists, suggesting complex brain resistance. Understanding that hunger is a normal signal helps distinguish between physical need and emotional eating.
Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid acylated hormone... which exerts its biological actions on energy balance through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR)... The central and peripheral administration of ghrelin in rodents has been shown to robustly promote feed intake, adiposity, and body weight gain... GHSR is expressed in AgRP neurons of the ARC... Ghrelin is able to stimulate the transcription of Npy and Agrp...
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies showing robust effects of administration and genetic ablation of GHSR/AgRP neurons.
Source
Hypothalamic and brainstem neuronal circuits controlling homeostatic energy balance
Marc Schneeberger et al. · Journal of Endocrinology · 2013
DOI 10.1530/joe-13-0398
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