[Obesity and the central nervous system regulation]

There are increasing evidences to show that central nervous system is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Energy intake is usually matched to energy expenditure over a period of time. Obesity occurs when the amount of energy intake (or food intake) is more than the energy expenditure. Because of the enormous tolls on human health taken by obesity and related disorders, an improved understanding of the control of food intake is an important priority. The aim of this article is to briefly review the advances in recent years on long-term maintenance of energy homeostasis and the role of central nervous system. In the present review, the following contents are included: (1) satiety and its production, (2) adiposity signals and the regulation of food intake, (3) nuclei in central nervous system involved in food intake, (4) the first- and the second-order neuronal signaling in hypothalamus on control of food intake and (5) clinic implications.