ABSTRACT
A.dramatic.increase.in.obesity.incidence.in.Westernized.societies.has.been.observed. over.the.past.15.years..Because.obesity.is.recognized.as.a.significant.risk.factor.for. diabetes,.cardiovascular.disease,.several.cancers,.and.shortened.life.span,1,2.there.is. a.new.focus.on.environmental.and.psychological.factors.that.contribute.to.overeating. and.perturbed.energy.homeostasis..A.major.psychological.factor.which.modulates. food.intake.is.the.hedonic.evaluation.of.food.(i.e.,.food.reward)..The.study.of.food. reward.has.expanded.over.the.past.several.years.as.details.of.the.functional.neurocircuitry.are.becoming.known;.and.as.an.appreciation.has.developed.for.the.role.of. energy.regulatory.factors.—.both.intrinsic.and.extrinsic.to.the.central.nervous.system.(CNS).—.in.modulating.food.reward..The.goal.of.this.chapter.is.to.provide.an. overview.of.current.knowledge.regarding.CNS.mediation.of.food.reward/motivation. and.the.evidence.in.support.of.its.potential.regulation.or.modulation.
