Researchers Find Link Between Brain Molecule and Obesity and Diabetes
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 16:31
in Health & Medicine
The brain's hypothalamus plays a key role in obesity and one of its major complications - type 2 diabetes. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus detect nutrients and hormones circulating in the blood and then coordinate a complex series of behavioral and physiological responses to maintain a balance between calories eaten and calories burned. Obesity and diabetes can result when this regulatory mechanism goes awry.