Peptide YY (PYY)
A gut hormone released after eating that signals fullness to the brain and reduces appetite.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Peptide YY, or PYY, is a hormone released by your gut after you eat that tells your brain you are full. Higher levels of PYY help you feel satisfied sooner and stop eating. Certain foods and weight loss treatments can influence how much PYY your body releases.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Peptide YY (PYY) is an anorexigenic gut hormone secreted by L-cells of the distal ileum and colon in proportion to caloric intake. It acts on Y2 receptors in the hypothalamus and vagal afferents to reduce appetite and delay gastric emptying. PYY levels rise after a meal and are reduced in obesity, contributing to impaired satiety signalling.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Understanding PYY helps explain why some people struggle to feel full and how GLP-1-based medications and certain eating patterns can restore satiety. Accord Medical Clinic's weight management programme targets these hormonal pathways to help you achieve lasting results.
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.
