So What is Ghrelin?Going for the 3 Increases: Increase in Health, Increase in

Happiness & Increase in Energy

Strategies for Success in Weight ManagementBy: James J. Messina, Ph.D.

What is Ghrelin

Hormone secreted by the stomachNovel-hormone-releasing peptide found

in hypothalamus & StomachAppetite-stimulating hormoneSends “feed me” messages to brain Part of the body’s built-in defense

mechanism to protect against famine & starvation

Human Ghrelin

What causes increase in Ghrelin

Dieting Other forms of weight loss Normal adaptive function of body to maintain

itself When lose weight-body senses this as famine Triggers survival mechanism to keep body

weight constant SEE A PICTURE OF THIS NEXT SLIDE

What happens when Ghrelin Increases?

Metabolism dropsPerson feels hungryPerson east moreWill power can only forestall the urge to

eat more for only a limited time

Why Gastric-bypass Surgery Short-circuits Normal Body Response

Disables the ghrelin producing cells in stomach Cells in stomach that produce ghrelin become

inactive This happens when these cells are no longer

exposed to food in stomach The ghrelin cells “go to sleep” when deprived

contact with ingested nutrients

Research reported in New England Journal of Medicine – May 23, 2002

Conducted by VA Puget Sound Health Center & University of Washington – led by Dr. David Cummings -Endocrinologist

Compared blood samples after six month period of time of two groups of obese patients

13 dieters & 5 gastric-bypass patients Dieters were on low-fat, low-calorie diet

Findings of Study

Dieters lost 17% of their body weight but their ghrelin level increased 24%

Gastic-bypass patients lost 36% of their body weight & their ghrelin levels fell 72% lower than those in diet group

Explanation for Difference in Ghrelin Level with Gastric-bypass

Objective of Gastric-bypass is to shrink stomach to only 5% of original size by rewiring course of food through digestive system

Tiny new stomach pouch can only hold 2 teaspoons of food-which travels into first part of small intestines

Permanent absence of food in rest of stomach ultimately suppresses ghrelin production

Future of Weight Loss Efforts

Development of ghrelin antagonist-to block production of ghrelin

However, such a drug will never be enough since we know that Binges are often unrelated to hunger or sensation of stomach emptiness but rather to environmental cues soooooooo

Will always need in addition: Healthy eating & physical activity

More Information on Ghrelin

Check out the links on Ghrelin under Hot Topics on our links section at:

http://www.coping.org/balanced/strategies/resource.htm#Ghrelin