The role of the gastrointestinal tract in appetite regulation and the development of obesity

Introduction. After eating, nutrients pass through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), stimulating the release of a number of peptide hormones. They are part of a complex chain of physiological energy homeostasis. Dysregulation of their secretion is pathogenetically linked to the development and maintenance of obesity and excess body weight. Methods. The following full-text and bibliographic-referential databases were used in preparing the review: the National Library of Medicine of the USA (PubMed); the scientific electronic library eLIBRARY.RU and CyberLeninka (cyberleninka.ru). A search for primary source information was conducted over a depth of 10 years (2015-2025) using the following keywords (in English-language databases with corresponding translations): gastrointestinal hormones, obesity. Results. It has been established that the gut-brain axis plays a key role in the regulation of appetite and the body’s energy balance. This connection is maintained through local paracrine and/or endocrine mechanisms involving numerous gastrointestinal peptides produced by the endocrine cells of the stomach and intestines. The main ones include: ghrelin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, cholecystokinin, peptide YY, pancreatic polypeptide, and oxyntomodulin. The GIT influences appetite and body weight through neural and humoral mechanisms as well as gut microbiota. Conclusion. Studying the mechanisms of dysfunction in the GIT will contribute to the future development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity aimed at restoring its normal function.

gastrointestinal tract, hormones, obesity

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