Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
Neuropeptide Y is one of the most abundant peptides in the brain, best known for powerfully stimulating appetite and regulating energy balance. It also exerts strong anti-anxiety and stress-buffering effects that promote resilience, and it influences circadian rhythm, blood pressure, and seizure threshold. It acts broadly as a counter-regulator that dampens stress and restores homeostasis.
Too little may be associated with
Anxiety, reduced stress resilience
Too much may be associated with
Increased appetite, obesity risk
Informational only — not medical advice.
Stimuli that influence it
Functions
Substances
- Food (↑)
Books (4)
Podcasts
Research (39)
- Hypothalamic Dysfunction Casipit et al. (2026) PubMed ↗
- Gut-derived lactic acid enhances tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptamine in regulation of anxiety via Akkermansia muciniphila Wang et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Clinical features and genetic mechanisms of anxiety, fear, and avoidance: A comprehensive review of five anxiety disorders Ohi et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Circulating endocannabinoids in children and adolescents: associations with anxiety and the impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Marusak et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Uncovering the role of Gpr45 in obesity regulation Li et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- About Sugar Addiction Guo et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- The Glutamate/GABA-Glutamine Cycle: Insights, Updates, and Advances Andersen (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Ultra-Processed Foods and Mental Health: Where Do Eating Disorders Fit into the Puzzle? Wiss et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Neuromodulatory Effects Induced by the Association of Moringa oleifera Lam., Tribulus terrestris L., Rhodiola rosea Lam., and Undaria pinnatidifida Extracts in the Hypothalamus Chiavaroli et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Intermittent fasting disrupts hippocampal-dependent memory and norepinephrine content in aged male and female mice Wiersielis et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Possible role of exercise therapy on depression: Effector neurotransmitters as key players Alizadeh (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Obesity as a Neuroendocrine Disorder Ferreira-Hermosillo et al. (2023) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Neurochemistry of the mammillary body Żakowski et al. (2023) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Hippocampus: Molecular, Cellular, and Circuit Features in Anxiety Wang et al. (2023) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Mechanistic Insights into the Link between Gut Dysbiosis and Major Depression: An Extensive Review Sonali et al. (2022) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
Links
Recovery resources
For stimuli that influence Neuropeptide Y (NPY). Not medical advice — see all recovery resources.
SMART Recovery · general recovery
Compulsive Eaters Anonymous - HOW (CEA-HOW) · process addiction
Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA) · process addiction
- Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) · process addiction
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) · process addiction