BIOL 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Atherosclerosis, Ventromedial Nucleus Of The Hypothalamus, Proopiomelanocortin
Document Summary
Relative constancy of body weight that occurs in a large proportion of adult animals is indicative of body energy homeostasis. Participation of lateral hypothalamus and the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus is regulating energy intake and expenditure is clear from the effects of lesions and stimulation of the hypothalamus on food intake and body weight gain. Being obese is defined as having abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to an individual"s health. A crude population measure of obesity is through mass body index. Body mass index (bmi)= (body weight/height)x m^2. Since the 80"s adults had and 80% increase in obesity and children had a 300% increase! Nowadays, children have less opportunity for physical activity because of modern technology, also types of food we eat could be more unhealthy. May be predisposed genetically to eating more. May have a change in our genes for food intake in utero.
