الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Energy balance is the balance between energy intake (food intake) and energy expenditure. For body weight (body fat, actually) to remain stable over time, energy intake must match energy expenditure (the sum of excreted energy : heat loss and physical work). Any deviation from this equilibrium will result in weight gain or loss. The brain regulates energy balance in response to signals from both adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract. Disorders of homeostatic mechanisms regulating energy balance lead to obesity and its associated complications. Currently, the prevalence of obesity is increasing, bringing with it significant morbidity and mortality. The understanding of the physiological systems regulating food intake and body weight is fundamental to establishing effective therapies for this world-wide epidemic.