The hypothalamic regulation of metabolic adaptations to exercise

Our modern lifestyle is characterised by easy access to nutrient dense foods combined with limited physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle is one of several factors that have contributed to the global obesity epidemic and it also predisposes to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although many studies have focused on the benefits of exercise in peripheral tissues, the contributions of the central nervous system to these exercise-induced metabolic adaptations are relatively unknown. The present review highlights the role of the ventromedial hypothalamus in regulating the metabolic response to exercise.