Orexigenic Signals
The body's natural eat-more messages — hormones and brain chemicals that drive hunger and food intake.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
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.
Medical
Clinical Definition
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.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
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.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
