Research
Hormonal
Obesity is associated with disturbed serotonergic signaling, specifically decreased central serotonin release and altered receptor availability, which may contribute to the failure to suppress food intake.
In obesity, the brain's serotonin system often becomes less sensitive or releases less serotonin, making it harder to feel full. This biological change can drive overeating. Treatments that target this system (like certain drugs) may help restore this signaling.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Disturbed serotonergic signaling is associated with obesity... Hypothalamic baseline serotonin release is reduced in animal models of obesity... Attenuation of meal-induced hypothalamic serotonin release occurs as early as after 1 week of high-fat feeding...
Why this rating
Based on multiple animal models and human neuroimaging studies cited in the review.
Source
Serotonin, food intake, and obesity
Katy A. van Galen et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2021
DOI 10.1111/obr.13210
narrative_reviewCited 189×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Central serotonergic signaling acts as an anorexigenic mechanism in the homeostatic circuitry by integrating metabolic signals to suppress food intake when energy needs are met, whereas peripheral serotonergic signaling promotes energy absorption and storage.Good
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with an increased risk of long-term weight gain, contrasting with their short-term anorexigenic effects.Good
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