Endocrine gland hormones at target cells "Permissiveness" is the situation in which a hormone cannot exert its full effects without the presence of another hormone. "Synergism" occurs when two or more hormones produce the same effects in a target cell and their results are amplified. "Antagonism" occurs when a hormone opposes or reverses the effect of another hormone. The endocrine glands belong to the body's control system. The hormones which they produce help to regulate the functions of cells and tissues throughout the body. Endocrine organs are activated to release their hormones by humoral, neural or hormonal stimuli. Negative feedback is important
Obesity and the environment trigger." The theory of environmental obesogens proposes a different causal facet to obesity – that lifetime exposure to xenobiotic chemicals may change the body's metabolic system. Chemical obesogens are molecules that do not properly regulate lipid metabolism in the body and could therefore promote obesity. Data is scarce, but some in-vitro studies have found this model could be an accurate predictor of future obesity. A study suggested that smoking before and during pregnancy, for example, increases the risk of obesity twofold in children of school age. Many chemicals that are known or suspected to be obesogens are endocrine disruptors. These