Regulation Of Appetite And Its Disorders

The weight of the elderly person is relatively constant and may not change for a long time, despite the varied daily routine and diet . In order to balance energy intake and expenditure, there are many mechanisms in our body that control appetite and our basic metabolism. Disturbances in this fine regulation lead to weight gain. Obesity, in fact, is an increased energy reserve in the form of fat, which occurs when caloric intake exceeds caloric expenditure.

The hypothalamus plays a central role in the regulation of appetite . This region of the brain receives signals from the gastrointestinal tract about the amount and type of food consumed, as well as the total fat content in the body, and accordingly affects our feeling of satiety. The main role of this control system is to protect us from starvation, not from gaining weight.

The information reaches the hypothalamus with the help of several appetite hormones . Among the most important is the leptin discovered in 1994 . It is released from adipose tissue and is a major regulator of energy stores in the body. High concentrations of leptin in the blood indicate to the brain that there is enough stored energy, resulting in decreased appetite and increased basal metabolism. Conversely, when starving, the amount of fat and leptin decreases, which makes us eat more and burn fewer calories. The role of leptin is best understood when considering the rare cases of people with congenital deficiency of this hormone. Although they suffer from extreme obesity from an early age, these patients show signs of constant hunger with frequent food intake.

According to the intake and quality of the food consumed, a number of hormones are also released from the stomach. The most important of these is ghrelin . It signals the brain to feel hungry and increases our appetite. It has been found that in the absence of sleep, as well as intake of foods rich in fat, its levels are significantly increased.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which is the basis of one of the most successful treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity (so-called incretin-based therapy), should not be overlooked here . It is excreted from the intestines so far on their wall with nutrients. Its role is to slow the emptying of the stomach, which reduces food intake, and to stimulate the secretion of insulin by the pancreas.

One of the main mechanisms of weight gain is thought to be leptin resistance.

Elevated levels of the hormone leptin are found in obese people, but their appetite is not reduced. It is established that the transmission of its signal to the hypothalamus is impaired. Although there is enough leptin in the blood, the brain simply does not see it and it thinks that the body is starving, even though it has enough stored energy. This changes the biology and behavior of a person in order to accumulate body fat to be used for "dark days".

In this mechanism probably lies the reason for the so-called. yo-yo effect after diet . In response to decreasing adipose tissue, leptin decreases, which causes a feeling of hunger, reduced desire to exercise and lower energy expenditure. In other words, the brain does everything possible to restore lost energy stores.

The main causes of leptin resistance include:

• Chronic inflammation - many inflammatory factors are released from the accumulated adipose tissue in the abdomen;
• Free fatty acids - they interfere with the transport of leptin to the brain. Insulin resistance is a condition characterized by a high concentration of QMS;
• Prolonged high concentrations of leptin cause reduced sensitivity of the receptors to it.

In other words, obesity and insulin resistance give rise to leptin resistance. Once you get there, losing weight becomes a very difficult process. What measures can you take?

• Eat less, especially at night, and avoid overeating. Give yourself at least 12 hours of rest without food;
• Eat less refined sugars and fructose, and emphasize the quality carbohydrates and fiber contained in vegetables;
• Increase protein and reduce high-fat foods;
• Sleep more;
•     • Exercise - physical activity improves insulin and leptin resistance, and suppresses chronic inflammation;
•     • Give yourself time to rest - constant stress increases cortisol levels, which worsens leptin resistance.