Obesity is a chronic disease that is linked with numerous comorbidities, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Managing obesity is an ongoing process that requires lifestyle modifications targeting sustained weight loss.

Hormonal imbalances play a critical role in the development of obesity, and treatments that target these hormonal imbalances offer promising therapeutic approaches to manage obesity.

Anorexigenic Hormones: Their Role in Weight Loss

Anorexigenic hormones are appetite-suppressing hormones that help regulate feeding behavior and energy balance. Examples of anorexigenic hormones include leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and cholecystokinin (CCK).

These hormones play an essential role in weight loss by suppressing appetite, regulating glucose metabolism, and promoting energy expenditure and thermogenesis.

Leptin

Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue that regulates energy homeostasis by suppressing food intake and increasing energy expenditure.

Leptin levels increase with adiposity, and its signaling pathway is disrupted in obese individuals leading to leptin resistance. Strategies aimed at improving leptin sensitivity, such as calorie restriction and exercise, are essential for managing obesity.

GLP-1

GLP-1 is an incretin hormone that is secreted by the small intestine in response to food intake. It regulates glucose homeostasis by stimulating insulin secretion and suppressing glucagon secretion.

GLP-1 also delays gastric emptying and suppresses appetite by acting on the hypothalamus. GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide and exenatide, are approved for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

CCK

CCK is a hormone that is produced by the duodenum and jejunum in response to food intake. It promotes satiety by acting on the vagus nerve and the hypothalamus. CCK also stimulates pancreatic secretion, gallbladder contraction, and intestinal motility.

CCK agonists, such as dexloxiglumide, have been studied for their potential role in managing obesity.

Conclusion

Anorexigenic hormones play a critical role in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy balance. Targeting hormonal imbalances associated with obesity, such as leptin resistance, offers promising therapeutic approaches to managing obesity.

GLP-1 receptor agonists and CCK agonists are currently approved or under investigation for their potential role in managing obesity and related comorbidities. Long-term studies are necessary to determine the efficacy and safety of these therapies.