Controlling Appetite Before It Starts: Scientists Identify Group of Neurons Linked to Feeling Full

A new study reveals that GLP-1 receptor agonists enhance the feeling of fullness before eating by affecting neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, offering insights into their role in preventing overeating and treating obesity.

A new study has found that GLP-1 receptor agonists trigger sensations of fullness prior to eating by acting on neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus. This research sheds light on the neural mechanisms through which these agonists enhance satiety and help prevent excessive food intake, playing a crucial role in addressing obesity.

Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) plays an important role in signaling the feeling of fullness after eating. Preingestive satiation is a phenomenon that occurs before actual food intake, allowing animals to regulate internal status and prepare for changes. Recently, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have proven effective in treating obesity by affecting food cognition, diminishing hypothalamic responses to food cues, and altering food palatability perception. GLP-1 receptor agonists are synthetic drugs that mimic the hormone GLP-1, which is produced in response to food intake.