From Appetite to Thermogenesis: Peptide and Autonomic Control of Energy Balance and Adiposity

Do peptide-based obesity treatments alter body weight only through intake, or do they also change how energy is dissipated as heat?

Body weight is determined not only by how much energy is consumed, but also by how energy is stored, expended and released as heat. Peptide signals and autonomic circuits coordinate these processes across the hypothalamus, hindbrain, gastrointestinal system and adipose tissue. However, the mechanisms that connect appetite regulation with thermogenesis and adiposity remain incompletely understood.

The rapid development of GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, amylin and multi-receptor agonists has brought renewed attention to this question. Although these treatments can markedly reduce food intake and body weight, it remains unclear whether they also modify sympathetic activity, brown and beige adipose tissue, core temperature or compensatory energy expenditure. Resolving these mechanisms is essential for understanding treatment response, weight-loss maintenance and metabolic adaptation.

This Research Topic will examine how endogenous peptides and peptide-based interventions influence the neural and autonomic control of energy allocation. We welcome mechanistic and translational studies addressing:

1. Incretin-based therapies, including GLP-1, GIP, semaglutide, tirzepatide and emerging multi-agonists, and their effects on thermogenesis, core temperature and energy expenditure beyond appetite suppression

2. Neuropeptide and gut–brain signalling in the control of appetite, satiety, energy intake and body weight

3. Hypothalamic, hindbrain and peripheral neural circuits linking nutritional signals to autonomic and metabolic responses

4. Sympathetic and sensory regulation of brown, beige and white adipose tissue, including adipose innervation, browning and thermogenic activation

5. Compensatory changes in energy expenditure, thermogenesis and appetite during weight loss, treatment withdrawal and weight regain

6. Translational approaches for measuring brown adipose tissue activity, core temperature and energy expenditure in preclinical and human studies

Original Research, Reviews, Brief Research Reports, Methods and Perspectives are encouraged. Studies reporting null or divergent thermogenic effects are also welcome when supported by rigorous physiological measurements.



Cover: Adapted from Slattery J.D. et al., Frontiers in Endocrinology 16:1503096 (2025), licensed under CC BY 4.0. James E. Blevins, corresponding author.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: GLP-1, GIP, semaglutide, tirzepatide, incretins, neuropeptides, autonomic nervous system, brown adipose tissue, beige adipose tissue, thermogenesis, core temperature, energy expenditure, appetite, obesity, adiposity, weight regain, gut–brain axis, sympathetic nervous system

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.