Obesity + the metabolic syndrome

Question 1

What is ghrelin?

Answer 1

28 amino acid peptide, produced from neuroendocrine cells in the stomach.

Released when the stomach is empty

Question 2

What is an anorixigen?

Answer 2

Gut/pancreatic peptides that suppress hunger.

e.g Insulin, somatostatin, CCK

Question 3

What is leptin?

Answer 3

the “satiety hormone,”a is a hormone made by adipose cells that helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger.

Question 4

Where is the nucleus of the solitary tract and what does it do?

Answer 4

It is in the medulla and collects central and peripheral messages, including from anorexigens.

Question 5

What does the arcuate nucleus contain?

Answer 5

Anorexigenic neurons, which secrete proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and “cocaine-amphetamine-related transcript” (CART)

Orexigenic neurons secrete Agouti-related peptide (AGRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)

AGRP inhibits melanocortin receptors.

Question 6

In what order does starvation use up the 3 main tissues?

Answer 6

Muscle, Fat, Then Muscle

Question 7

What are symptoms of extreme starvation?

Answer 7

Wasting of muscle

Muscle fatigue and reduced exercise capacity

Diminished respiratory capacity

Slowed heart rate, and decreased contractility

Loss of heat-generating capacity

Apathy

Death from respiratory or cardiac failure, or infection

Question 8

What psychological characteristics are associated with eating disorders?

Answer 8

low self-esteem
perfectionism. 
Desire to control their environment. 
Depression. 
Distorted body image.

Question 9

What are symptoms of anorexia nervosa?

Answer 9

Body weight more than 15% below standard (BMI

Question 10

What is the normal BMI range?

Answer 10

18.5-25

Question 11

What are some physiological consequences of obesity?

Answer 11

Musculoskeletal system - osteoarthritis, lower back pain.
Ciruculatory system - hypertension, DVT, PE
Metabolic + endocrine systems - diabetes
Cancers - endometrial, breat + colon cancers
Reproductive and urological problems - stress incontinence, menstrual abnormalities, polycystic syndrome, ED
Respiratory problems - sleep apnoea
GI and Liver problems - fatty liver disease, reflux, gall stones
Psychological + social problems - stress, low self esteem, reduced libido, depression

Question 12

What is metabolic syndrome?

Answer 12

A combination (3 out of 5) of:

Obesity (waist circumference)
Type II diabetes mellitus
Hypertension
High plasma triglycerides with 
low HDL cholesterol