Energy dysfunction in humans: the obesity syndrome
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Date
2014-04-03
Authors
Speechly, David Paul
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Abstract
Hyperphagia, rather than reduced energy expenditure, is generally
accepted to be the main cause of obesity. As such, the disruption of the
appetite-satiety mechanism has been blamed for the relative excess in
energy intake that is characteristic of the obese. Factors affecting
appetite regulation, and the causes of this dysregulation in the obese
remain to be established. Putative mechanisms regulating the physiology
of appetite include concentrations of various hormones and macronutrient
content. These, in turn, may be influenced by meal frequency, and
different hormonal and appetite responses to these changes in meal
frequency may be evident in the lean and obese.
In an attempt to elucidate the link between the observed incidence of
obesity and elevated serum insulin concentration, I examined in a
controlled setting, the effects of altered feeding frequencies, varied energy
intake and changes in macronutrient composition on appetite control and
insulin concentration in lean and obese males. Furthermore the
correlation between serum insulin concentrations immediately before a
meal and energy intake was also investigated, as was the incidence of
fasting hyperinsulinaemia with concomitant euglycaemia in non-diabetic
Caucasian South African adults and its relationship to BMI (Body Mass
Index).