Uncoupling overeating and fat storage by modulation of different serotonergic receptors.

Summary: Have you ever wondered why some psychiatric medicines cause people to gain a lot of weight? Scientists looked at how these drugs change the way the body uses energy. They found that both the natural brain chemical serotonin and these medicines make you want to eat more. But they work in very different ways! Serotonin makes you eat more but actually helps burn fat. The medicines, however, trick the body into eating more while also storing extra fat. By understanding these different switches in the body, doctors might one day figure out how to stop the weight gain caused by these important medicines.