Food intake, metabolism and homeostasis.

This tribute to Bart Hoebel briefly reviews the following topics. Metabolic processes are intimately intertwined with food intake as well as drug taking. Changes in any of these processes can be adequately adjusted to the environment to preclude major perturbations in homeostatically-regulated systems, but only if the environment is predictable. Learning plays a critical role in adapting these processes to specific situations. The regulatory context plays a critical role in how metabolism and food intake interact.