Ghrelin
The 'hunger hormone' secreted by an empty stomach that rises before meals and surges during dieting.
Ghrelin is the dinner bell: produced mainly by the empty stomach, it climbs before habitual mealtimes, spikes appetite, and falls after eating. It also nudges the brain's reward system, making food not just wanted but more enjoyable.
Weight loss raises baseline ghrelin — one of the body's countermeasures against shrinking — which is why hunger on a traditional diet often grows rather than fades. GLP-1 therapy doesn't lower ghrelin much; instead it turns down the brain's response to it, which patients describe as hunger losing its urgency. Meal rhythm, protein, and sleep all modulate ghrelin too: it's a hormone that rewards routine.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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