leptin and ghrelin
People who burn the midnight oil may have more trouble controlling their weight. The reason? It could come down to changes in the levels of two key hormones that control appetite. Find out how lack of sleep affects appetite hormones and your ability to lose weight.
What is it that motivates you to eat – or to overeat? Your appetite is regulated by a complex group of peptides including appetite hormones like leptin, produced by fat cells. Leptin turns off your appetite and reduces the desire to eat. Ghrelin, a hormone produced by the lining of your stomach has the opposite effect – it strongly stimulates the desire to eat. Think mad rush to the refrigerator! These hormones exert their effects on a portion of your brain called the hypothalamus.
You already know that what you eat and how much is a factor when it comes to controlling your weight – but what about WHEN you eat? A recent study looked at this issue. Read on to find out what research shows about meal timing and weight control.
Feel like you’re always hungry? Hunger is a powerful motivating force that can make life difficult when you’re trying to lose weight. This article discusses the what causes hunger and gives tips for how to control it.
Short periods of sleep have been linked with weight gain and an increase in appetite. Now, a new study shows that skimping on sleep may impact women different than men. Find out how the two sexes differ in their response to too little sleep and how this impacts appetite and food consumption. You’ll also discover tips for getting better quality sleep.
Still counting calories regardless of its composition? That’s not always the best approach to weight loss or health. What’s just as important is calorie quality. Find out why calorie quality counts and how to choose your calories wisely.
Although intuitively you might think stress would cause weight loss, often the opposite is true. Stress can cause weight gain and redistribution with more fat settling around your tummy and waistline. Have you ever wondered why stress causes weight gain? Here are three reasons why and steps you can take to prevent stress-related weight gain.
Appetite versus hunger – what’s the difference? Distinguishing between the two is more important than you think. Many people confuse appetite with hunger, which causes them to snack too frequently, make the wrong food choices and take in too many calories. Find out how to distinguish true hunger cues from emotional eating triggers.
