Homeostatic Signals

Food intake is regulated by two complementary pathways in the body and brain that signal us to consume food: the homeostatic and hedonic pathways. The homeostatic pathway controls energy balance by increasing signaling to motivate us to eat following the depletion of energy stores. Hedonic or reward-based regulation can override the homeostatic pathway and enhance signals in craving and consumption of HPFs during periods of relative energy abundance (Lutter & Nestler, 2009).