Which hormone stimulates appetite (hunger)?

• A. Ghrelin
• B. Leptin
• C. Insulin
• D. Adiponectin

Answer: (A)

Ghrelin is the hormone that signals hunger. It’s produced mainly in the stomach and rises before meals, activating receptors in the hypothalamus to promote-feeding behavior. This hormone specifically stimulates the brain’s hunger pathways, helping you feel the urge to eat and start a meal.

Leptin, on the other hand, comes from fat tissue and conveys that energy stores are sufficient, which tends to reduce appetite. Insulin helps regulate blood glucose and energy storage after eating, and while it can influence appetite, its primary role is metabolic. Adiponectin affects insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism rather than driving hunger signals. So ghrelin best explains the appetite signal described.