Hormonal
Obesity is a disease of the ponderostat characterized by a dysregulated neuroendocrine set point that actively defends a higher body weight through compensatory reductions in energy expenditure and increases in appetite.
Recognize that obesity involves a biological set point that resists change. Simple calorie counting often fails because the body compensates by lowering metabolism and increasing hunger. Effective management may require addressing these biological drivers, potentially through pharmacological treatments that target the ponderostat, rather than relying solely on willpower.
This narrative review proposes a unifying perspective that considers obesity as a biological condition with an abnormal set point and dysregulated energy balance due to abnormalities in ponderostat function.
Why this rating
This is a narrative review proposing a theoretical framework; it cites longitudinal studies but does not present new primary clinical trial data.
Source
Obesity: a disease of the ponderostat and the regulation of energy balance
Silvio Buscemi et al. · Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity · 2025
DOI 10.1007/s40519-025-01790-9
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