ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

What is the function of ghrelin in the body?

1. initiating hunger

2. controlling energy expenditure

3. preparing the body for incoming food

4. promoting fat storage

The correct answer is: promoting fat storage

Ghrelin primarily functions as a hormone that signals hunger. It is produced in the stomach and plays a crucial role in regulating appetite by stimulating the sensation of hunger in the brain. When the stomach is empty, ghrelin is secreted, prompting an individual to seek food and eat. While promoting fat storage does have a relationship with ghrelin, it is not its primary role in the context of hunger signaling. Ghrelin also influences energy balance and may have impacts on metabolism, but its central function is to initiate hunger. Therefore, understanding the role of ghrelin as a key player in appetite regulation highlights why initiating hunger is the most accurate representation of its primary effect in the body.