ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a rare form of treatment-resistant morbid obesity associated with congenital or acquired hypothalamic damage. Its pathophysiology is incompletely understood, with weight gain being attributed to hyperphagia and hyperinsulinaemia. We sought to compare the physiology of various plasma appetite-regulating hormones in HyOb and ‘simple’ obesity (Ob) to improve our understanding of both forms of obesity and identify novel therap...

Background: Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a rare form of treatment-resistant morbid obesity associated with congenital or acquired hypothalamic damage. Its pathophysiology has been attributed to hyperphagia and hyperinsulinaemia. The wider roles of oxytocin (OXT) in regulating appetite and weight have recently emerged in animal and human studies, but there is no human evidence that hypo-oxytocinaemia contributes to weight gain.Hypothesis: Hypo-oxytocina...

Background: Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a syndrome of inexorable, treatment-resistant obesity seen after congenital (e.g. septo-optic dysplasia (SOD)) or acquired (e.g. tumour-related) hypothalamic damage, often co-existing with hyperphagia, panhypopituitarism, autism, sleep, and temperature dysregulation. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood but hyperphagia and excess caloric intake may be less important than previously thought.Objective and hypo...