Medical College of Wisconsin
CTSICores SearchResearch InformaticsREDCap

The effect of weight loss on hypothalamus structure and function in obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Neurosci 2024 Jun;134(1):75-87

Date

06/07/2022

Pubmed ID

35659180

DOI

10.1080/00207454.2022.2086127

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85134270691 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Obesity presents with structural and functional hypothalamic dysfunction. However, it is unclear whether weight loss can lead to hypothalamic changes. We therefore aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of body mass reduction in obese individuals on hypothalamic structure and function.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for studies that reported the change in hypothalamic structure and function after weight loss. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on magnetic resonance imaging techniques, medio-basal hypothalamus T2-relaxation time, blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and biomarkers including glucose, insulin, leptin, ghrelin and inflammatory markers of interleukins. Mean differences between pre- and post-weight loss and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models.

RESULTS: Thirteen pre-post studies were included, of which six accounted for the meta-analysis. Studies showed a favorable decrease in T2-relaxation time (n = 1), favorable change in hypothalamic activity after weight loss on BOLD contrast (n = 4), with higher peak activities after surgical weight loss (n = 2). No differences were found in the gray matter density of the hypothalamus on VBM (n = 1). Pooled mean differences between pre- and post-surgical weight loss revealed a decrease of 8.53 mg/dl (95% CI: 5.17, 11.9) in glucose, 7.73 pmol/l (95% CI: 5.07, 10.4) in insulin, 15.5 ng/ml (95% CI: 9.40, 21.6) in leptin, 142.9 pg/ml (95% CI: 79.0, 206.8) in ghrelin and 9.43 pg/ml (95% CI: -6.89, 25.7) in IL-6 level.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed weight reduction in obesity led to limited structural change and significant functional changes in the hypothalamus.

Author List

Devi S, Gedda DUK, Chawla S, Doucette J, Yadav N, Mirshahi S, de Moura LP, Velloso LA, Mekary RA

Author

Shervin Mirshahi MD Assistant Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Ghrelin
Glucose
Humans
Hypothalamus
Insulins
Leptin
Obesity
Weight Loss