The anatomy of appetite: roll-over text
There are numerous factors involved in determining a person’s appetite and each one is marked on the map of the body.
(A) Limbic system
Parts of the brain responsible for memory and emotions. Processes information about previous experiences with food and reward. Could encourage someone to eat more or less.
(B) Hypothalamus
Processes signals from gut hormones and fat, and sends its own signals. These hormones include agouti-related protein, MCH and NPY, which block pain signals, give a calming effect and stimulate feeding. There are also other signals such as MSH, which suppress appetite. The balance of all of these will determine a person's appetite.
(C) Vagal afferents nerve
Sends messages from the gut to the brain stem.
(D) Your genes
Can affect how any of these hormones work - a variation could alter a person's appetite to eat more or less.
(E) Stomach
Secretes hormones like ghrelin, which tells you that you are hungry.
(F) Pancreas
Secretes several hormones, including insulin, incretins and amylin, which tell you to eat less.
(G) Duodenum
Part of the intestine that produces GLP1 and CCK, which send signals telling you to eat less.
(H) Intestines
Secrete a hormone called PYY 3-36, which tells the hypothalamus to suppress appetite.
(I) Fat tissue
Secretes leptin, a powerful hormone that acts on the hypothalamus and is responsible for long-term control of consumption.
(J) Environmental factors
Increased marketing and availability of food, particularly high-calorie, processed foods.
