An Alternate Approach to THE PROBLEM OF OBESITY

Abstract

Evidence for a homeostatic regulation of the appetite and of fat storage suggests, as a cause of obesity, some other hypothesis than “simple overfeeding.” Two hypotheses are discussed. These are (1) psychic stress operating through the autonomic nervous system on the hypothalamus, and (2) the “lipophilia” concept of obesity. The type of treatment to which each of these concepts of obesity leads is indicated.