Physiology, Appetite And Weight Regulation

Excerpt

Body weight changes result from caloric excess or deficit. Weight gain results from a state of persistent energy excess. Weight loss occurs when energy expenditure surpasses caloric intake for a significant period. Physiologic processes and external factors like culture, illness, and environmental exposures impact body weight. The human body has a high tolerance for gradual changes either way. However, chronic energy imbalance produces systemic complications that, over time, can become fatal. This topic focuses on the mechanisms behind weight regulation and the role that appetite plays in it.