For the past 50 years, the most prevalent theoretical models for regulation of food intake have been based in the physiological concept of energy homeostasis. However, several authors have noted that the simplest form of homeostasis, stability, does not accurately reflect the actual state of affairs and most notably the recent upward trend in body mass index observed in the majority of affluent nations. The present review argues that processes of natural selection have more likely made us first and foremost behavioral opportunists that are adapted to uncertain environments, and that physiological homeostasis is subservient to that reality. Examples are presented from a variety of laboratory studies indicating that food intake is a function of the effort and/or time required to procure that food, and that economic decision making is central to understanding how much and when organisms eat. The discipline of behavioral economics has developed concepts that are useful for this enterprise, and some of these are presented. Lastly, we present demonstrations in which genetic or physiologic investigations using environmental complexity will lead to more realistic ideas about how to understand and treat idiopathic human obesity. The fact is that humans are eating more and gaining weight in favorable food environments in exactly the way predicted from some of these models, and this has implications for the appropriate way to treat obesity.
KeywordsBehavioral economics; food intake; foraging; closed economy; weight regulation
OverviewMost analysts agree that the contemporary increase in body mass index, both at a crosssectional population level and longitudinally within individuals, that is occurring in many parts of the world results from a combination of increased food intake and decreased physical activity [1]. In contrast to this observed increase, theoretical model(s) of control of food intake and body weight emphasize stability. These models are mostly biomedical in nature, meaning that physiological signals in the body and brain are hypothesized to act in a self-regulatory manner to produce an optimal or stable situation for the organism. The foundation of these models is the concept of homeostasis and body weight set point [2,3]. According to such models, if we eat more and gain weight, then several hormonal signals will act in the brain to inhibit further food seeking. Conversely, if we eat too little, the system will increase food seeking and intake, Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. and the net result will be relative stability of body weight across ...