Question

Name THREE appetite hormones and explain how they regulate food intake?

Answer 1

Answer

Appetite hormones

1) Leptin
- It is also known as satiety hormone.
- Leptin is produced by our body’s fat cells and it targets the hypothalamus in brain.
- Leptin provides information to brain regarding the fat and available energy source. This signals a satiating effect that indicates that food is not required.
- It prevents over eating.

2) Ghrelin
- It is also known as hunger hormone.
- Ghrelin is produced in gastrointestinal tract.
- This hormone is secreted in response to empty stomach.
- Ghrelin acts on hypothalamus of brain to increase the hunger and production of gastric acid to prepare the body for food intake.

3) Insulin
- Insulin is secreted from beta cells in pancreas.
- It is also known as storage hormone.
- After the food intake, beta cells secrete insulin that acts upon the body tissue to take up the glucose molecules and store them.
- This process supress the hunger.

There are some other hormones that regulate appetite such as :

• Cholecystokinin : It acts as appetite suppresant by binding to receptors in the brain following ingestion of carbohydrates and fats.
• Neuropeptide Y : This hormone delays the feeling of satiety or fullness and increase the amount of food ingested.