Obesity is a worldwide health issue, affecting children and adults in developed and developing countries. Obesity is a disorder of both energy metabolism and appetite regulation, and may be understood as a dysfunction of energy balance. Applicants have found a means for regulating food intake by a subject by administering a compound to the subject which affects neuronal energy balance. Applicants have found a means for regulating food intake by a subject administering a compound to the subject which targets the activity of AMPK, in particular inhibiting activation, in particular hypothalamic. Applicants have also found a method of inducing weight loss in a subject by decreasing the subjects appetite by administering a compound to the subject which increases the subject's neuronal energy balance.