Overweight and obesity are a global health problem and its prevalence continues to rise. An estimated 300 million adults are obese and 4 times more are overweight. The outlook for children is not encouraging, considering that 43 million children under five years are obese or overweight. The accumulation of body fat may be due to an imbalance in the complex interplay of chemical signals between the central nervous system and peripheral tissues responsible for controlling feeding behavior. Several studies suggest the involvement of the endocannabinoid system as a key regulator of food intake. Pharmacological inhibition of CB1 receptors and the regulation of their expression through diet have great potential as an alternative for the treatment of disorders of eating behavior and one of the most prevalent disorders, metabolic syndrome.
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