The effects of 1800 and 2100 mhz electromagnetic fields on rats satiety hormones, feeding behaviour and obesity

World populations are gaining weight fast. It was shown in TURDEP-II study that even a short period of time the average body weight of the Turkish people was increased by 6-8 kg. As a result, the prevalence of obesity increased by 44%.Increasing in obesity prevalence is related with reduced physical activity due to increasing technology that facilitated lifestyle and changes in eating habits in modern life. Other environmental factors that can impact on obesity must be identified. The increasing use of mobile phones with its intensive form of electromagnetic field might be damage the brain parenchyma, especially the regulatory center of appetite, hypothalamus.In this study, we aimed to detect (a) changes in appetite hormone and possible changes in weight, (b) the behavioral changes effect on weight gain in the experimental animals subjected to the electromagnetic field.Study was designed with 42 Sprague Dawley rats. As a result of the study; 1800 MHz or 2100 MHz EMF application did not cause a significant change on body weight. EMF application did not have any significant influence on appetite hormones such as CART, AgRP and neuropeptide Y except MSH. Pain thresholds were significantly decreased with EMF (increased sensitivity to pain). There was no significant difference in elevated plus test scores between before and after the EMF. Rearing behavior significantly increased in 1800 Mhz and 2100 Mhz EMF groups.In our study, applying high frequency with low tissue penetrance, such as 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz could be a reason for the lack of weight gain. In addition to the lack of a thermal effect that cause weight gain, EMF did not affect the hunger-satiety hormone balance in the appetite center of the hypothalamus.In conclusion, the decrease in MSH levels and an increase in rearing with EMF in our groups may be the evidence of non-ionizing radiation effects on living organisms. Our findings may be the expression of the need for a new and very well constructed research in this area.