Ghrelin & Dopamine: The Hidden Link Between Hunger, Motivation, and Performance

In this thought-provoking episode of Decoding Health, Dr. Urban breaks down the complex relationship between ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical. Responding to a listener’s question inspired by Andrew Huberman’s discussions, Dr. Urban explains how ghrelin not only signals hunger but also stimulates dopamine production, creating a direct link between food and emotional reward. The episode takes a critical look at the growing use of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs (like Wegovy and Zepbound) for weight loss, examining their unintended impact on the ghrelin-dopamine axis. Dr. Urban highlights concerning side effects—such as loss of joy, depressive symptoms, and potential addictive behaviors—as a result of suppressed appetite and reward signaling. Through accessible explanations and real-world analogies, this episode urges listeners to consider the mental health trade-offs of artificial appetite suppression and emphasizes the need for informed consent in healthcare decisions.