Regulation of appetite and body weight.

Abstract
Short-term variations in caloric intake and energy expenditure-including attempts by obese patients to lose weight-tend to be modified by the body's long-term weight regulatory system. Hormones such as leptin and insulin participate in this system, which links changes in body fat content to appropriate compensatory responses in the hypothalamus. Correction of defects in the system might permit sustained weight loss in obese patients.