Appetite and Body Weight: Integrative Systems and the Development of Anti-Obesity Drugs,

edited by Tim C Kirkham and Steven J Cooper, 2007, 384 pages, hardcover, $115.00. Elsevier Sciences, Burlington, MA.

Denver Health Medical Center
Division of Endocrinology
MC 4000
777 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80204
E-mail: daniel.bessesen{at}uchsc.edu

Over the past 15 y there has been a dramatic increase in our understanding of the role of the brain in regulating food intake. This new text provides a useful update on some of the developments in this complex and rapidly evolving area. The title suggests that the emphasis of the book is new weight-loss drugs. Although this topic is addressed, it is just a small part of what is covered. The primary strength of this book lies in the broad view it gives of the role of brain systems outside the hypothalamus in regulating food intake. This book covers research developments relating to issues such as the sensory perception of food-related stimuli, the role of the brain stem and gut, the integration of diverse signals in the brain, and the roles of reward, hedonics, palatability, and learning in food choices. By covering these frequently overlooked topics, this book is a pleasure to read and a welcome addition to the available literature on food intake.

The editors, Kirkham and Cooper from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, bring several unique strengths to this book. First, the choice of chapter authors gives a European perspective to the topics that is not always accessible to investigators and clinicians in the United States. Of the 20 contributors, only 4 are from the United States; the remainder are from the United Kingdom. In addition, the chapter authors were encouraged to give the reader a comprehensive view of the relevant science. The discussions of the neurophysiologic systems involved with hedonics, motivation, reward, and learning provide not only recent scientific developments but a historical perspective in which to place these bodies of work.

The highlight of this book is its coverage of brain regions that are not frequently discussed in reviews including the nucleus accumbens, the brain stem, and the limbic system. Topics such as the neurochemical basis of "liking" versus "wanting" are addressed in a manner that is quite helpful for readers who may not be aware of the important distinction between the 2 terms. The reviews of studies on taste preference and learning are novel, refreshing, and helpful, and the book adequately covers neuropeptide regulation of appetite and recent developments in weight-loss medications. The book does have modest weaknesses. Some of the chapters seem to have a relatively strong editorial bias. However, this may simply prompt the reader to explore related literature. In addition, the roles of serotonin and norepinephrine in regulating energy balance could have been discussed in more depth. Although this book is at times detailed and challenging to read for someone who does not work directly in this area, it summarizes a large body of relevant literature in a manner that is enlightening and enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in broadly following developments in the science of the neural regulation of food intake and the physiologic psychology of appetite.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author declared no conflict of interest.