Greetings,
I'm new to this forum, and find the idea behind it to be quite appealing. Discussing scientific ideas fleshes them out and strengthens them considerably. Anyway, back on topic: I've been trying to elucidate which mechanisms of thermoregulation could be exploited to promote weight loss in overweight and obese patients. Thermoregulation, contrary to popular belief, appears to be a series of interconnected processes, which condition a thermic point of balance and not the other way around. However, it stands to reason that those individual thermoregulatory loops that pertain to, for instance, core temperature, exert more influence on the thermoregulatory efferent pathways born of the hypothalamus.
Considering the above, does anyone know precisely which receptors exert this major influence on body temperature control? If so, where exactly are they, and can they be stimulated through the use of cold packs?
My final question is more of a long shot, but could be worth exploring: Can hypothalamic thermoregulation be induced by directly cooling the brain's blood supply?
I appreciate any help given, and thank you for your answers in advance
Dieting and excercise are not enough, as evidenced by the BMI of western nations. Novel approaches are required, in order to overcome these problems. Additionally, the body's defense mechanisms make these two measures rather ineffective in the long run. Obesity is still around, and traditional treatment has failed. New approaches are needed, that can't be denied.