Review Appetite regulation: from the gut to the hypothalamus.

Obesity is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which can be attributed to increased risk of a number of medical conditions including, type 11 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and coronary heart disease. The most common cause of premature mortality in the obese population, less well known, are associations between obesity and several cancers including breast, endometrial, prostate and bowel cancer. Obesity predisposes to osteoarthritis, particularly, in the large weight-bearing joints and to respiratory problems including obstructive sleep apnoea. Thus, obesity poses an immense and increasing public health burden.