The neuroendocrinology of childhood obesity

The regulation of energy balance occurs in the hypothalamus. There, afferen t hormonal and neural signals of hunger versus satiety and energy depletion versus repletion are integrated to influence the efferent signals of calor ic intake and energy expenditure. Defects in this complex neuroendocrine ne gative feedback loop give rise to various hormonal and genetic obesity synd romes and provide insight into therapeutic strategies for obesity managemen t.