Why can one person finish a meal and feel satisfied for hours, while another becomes hungry again quickly or continues wanting food despite having eaten enough? Hunger and fullness are regulated through communication between the gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, pancreas, brain and reproductive system. Hormones including ghrelin, GLP-1, PYY, CCK, leptin and insulin participate in this regulation, while reproductive hormones and the physiological stress response can modify appetite further. These systems are also influenced by factors such as energy restriction, sleep, meal composition and menstrual-cycle phase. For women with lipedema, the subject is especially interesting because appetite-regulating hormones have now been investigated directly in a randomized dietary trial in women with both lipedema and obesity.
