Eat Right Practice Exam

Which gastrointestinal hormone stimulates increased food consumption?

1. Cholecystokinin

2. Ghrelin

3. Enterostatin

4. Peripheral hormone peptide YY

The correct answer is: Ghrelin

The hormone that stimulates increased food consumption is ghrelin. It is often referred to as the "hunger hormone" because it plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and energy balance. Ghrelin is produced primarily in the stomach and is released when the stomach is empty, signaling to the brain that it is time to eat. As ghrelin levels rise before meals, they stimulate hunger, increase food intake, and may also promote fat storage. This hormone's timing and action are essential in the body's regulation of energy homeostasis. When food is consumed, ghrelin levels decrease, leading to a reduction in appetite. Thus, ghrelin is essential for stimulating appetite and increasing the desire to eat, making it a key player in the mechanism of hunger regulation. Other hormones like cholecystokinin, enterostatin, and peptide YY have different roles related to fullness or satiety but do not have the primary function of stimulating appetite and increasing food consumption.