Feeding as a reward mechanism

Abstract

Rates of obesity are increasing worldwide and pose a significant threat to individual health and to health-care systems. The natural drive to eat, combined with a surplus of readily available food, is together partly responsible for this modern epidemic. Recent research has better defined the molecular and neural mechanisms by which the brain regulates food intake. While much of this research focused on the hypothalamus, it has long been recognized that reward pathways have an important role in food intake. Here, an overview of the role of dopamine reward systems in regulating food intake is presented, with emphasis on regulation by peripheral metabolic signals. Moreover, there are emerging results that better connect regulation of sleep and reward circuits. The orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide is an example of this and work on its role in addiction is also highlighted in this chapter.