How Appetite Cells In The Brain Respond To Fasting

Agouti.

More agouti.

There are two key cell types in the brain that are central to the regulation of feeding behaviors, agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-expressing neurons and proopiomelancortin (POMC)-expressing neurons. Previous work has shown that the AgRP neurons promote feeding and weight gain, while the POMC cells have been linked with appetite suppression and weight loss. Now a new study published by Cell Press in the February 9 issue of the journal Neuron uncovers a neural pathway that links fasting with activation of AgRP neurons. The research provides valuable insight into the complex mechanisms that control food seeking behavior.

"Given their critical roles in feeding behaviors, there is great interest in understanding the factors that regulate the activity of AgRP and POMC neurons," says senior study author, Dr. Bradford B. Lowell, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. "However, although both types of neurons receive abundant excitatory and inhibitory inputs, the influence of these upstream signals has not received much attention."

Silly.

You get hungry. That is it.

To lose weight, there is no need to fast.

There is a need to eat fewer Calories.

No more. No less.

It is the starvation nature of conventional diets that causes them to fail.

E.g., see here, here, here, here and here.

Nothing agouti will come of this misdirected research.