- Some hypothesize that obesity, at least in certain cases, is related to dysregulation of the brain’s reward system.
- The hypothalamus is recognized as the main center of the brain responsible for regulation of signals for food consumption.
- Hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, and insulin work on both the hypothalamus and the limbic system within areas such as the caudate nucleus, hippocampus, and insula – the same regions that participate in the control of reward, motivation, learning, emotion, and stress responses.
References
- Taylor VH, Curtis CM, Davis C. The obesity epidemic: the role of addiction. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne. Mar 9 2010; 182(4), 327-328.
- Wang GJ, Yang J, Volkow ND, et al. Gastric stimulation in obese subjects activates the hippocampus and other regions involved in brain reward circuitry. PNAS. 2006; 103(42), 15641-15645.
- Volkow ND, Wang GL, Fowler JS, Telang F. Overlapping neuronal circuits in addiction and obesity: evidence of systems pathology. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. Oct 12 2008; 363(1507), 3191-3200.
