A disorder (e.g., obesity) is treated by applying an electrical signal to an autonomic nerve (e.g., a vagus or splanchnic nerve). The treatment includes applying a signal to a nerve of a patient to be treated. The signal has a duty cycle including an ON time during which the signal is applied by to the nerve followed by an OFF time during the signal is not applied to the nerve. The ON time is selected to have a duration preferably greater than 30 seconds and up to 180 seconds.