Binge eating in pre-clinical models.
Bartłomiej Rospond1, Joanna Szpigiel1, Anna Sadakierska-Chudy2
1Department of Toxicology, Chair of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
Pharmacological Reports : PR
|May 3, 2015
Summary
Obesity affects 35% of the global population, often linked to lifestyle factors. This review explores animal models of binge eating and new anti-obesity drugs targeting the brain's reward system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- Obesity is a global epidemic affecting 35% of the world population, driven by sedentary lifestyles and poor diet.
- Existing anti-obesity drugs often have severe side effects.
- Emerging research implicates the brain's reward system in obesity and compulsive eating behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common animal models used to study binge eating.
- To discuss the neurobiological underpinnings of binge eating.
- To present novel anti-obesity drugs with central mechanisms of action.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on animal models of binge eating (restriction/refeeding, limited access, stress schedule).
- Analysis of neurobiological findings related to these models.
- Survey of recent pharmacological developments in anti-obesity treatments.
Main Results:
- Established animal models provide insights into the neurobiology of binge eating.
- Disturbances in the reward system are increasingly linked to excessive food intake.
- Newer anti-obesity drugs focus on central targets, potentially offering improved efficacy and safety.
Conclusions:
- Animal models are crucial for understanding the complex mechanisms of binge eating.
- Targeting the reward system represents a promising avenue for novel obesity treatments.
- Further research into centrally acting drugs may lead to more effective obesity management.
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