Orexigenic Signals

Orexigenic signals are your body’s natural “eat more” messages. These are chemical signals — like hormones and brain chemicals — that tell you when you’re hungry and drive you to seek food. Understanding them helps explain why willpower alone isn’t always enough to control eating.

Orexigenic signals are neuroendocrine pathways that stimulate appetite and food-seeking behaviour. Key orexigenic mediators include ghrelin (produced by the stomach), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. These signals increase during energy deficit and are often dysregulated in obesity.

Many weight loss medications work by blocking orexigenic signals or amplifying anorexigenic ones. At Accord Medical, Dr Joseph Wang assesses each patient’s appetite regulatory system to develop a personalised weight management programme that addresses their unique biology.