Research

Hormonal

Insulin acts as an anorexigenic signal in the CNS by binding to insulin receptors in the hypothalamus, activating PI3K signaling to inhibit NPY and stimulate POMC, thereby reducing food intake.

Insulin does more than manage blood sugar; it signals your brain that you have enough energy. High insulin levels (common in obesity) can lead to central insulin resistance, blunting this satiety signal. Improving insulin sensitivity through diet and exercise may help restore this natural appetite regulation.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Insulin... acts as an anorectic signal within the CNS... The i.c.v. or intrahypothalamic administration of insulin to primates and rodents reduces food intake... Insulin binding to IR leads to the autophosphorylation of the receptor and the consequent recruitment of IRS proteins, which converge with the leptin pathway at the PI3K level... The activation of the insulin signaling pathway results in reduced expression of NPY and increased levels of POMC in the ARC, thus stimulating an anorexigenic effect.
Marc Schneeberger et al. · Journal of Endocrinology · 2013

Why this rating

Supported by administration studies and genetic models, though some knockout studies show less dramatic phenotypes than leptin.

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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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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