setpoint hypothesis

setpoint hypothesis

Endocrinology A deterministic theory that explains the interplay of appetite and other factors–eg, fats and carbohydrates in weight control; per the SPH, the brain is constantly adjusting the metabolic rate and manipulating behavior to maintain a target weight; although the SP changes with age, it reflects a fixed genetic program; while diet and exercise can shift the SP, the target is immutable. See Obesity; Cf Glycogen hypothesis, Settling point hypothesis.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.