Chronic disturbances in autonomic regulation are increasingly recognized as contributors to metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this Review, Wangler and colleagues discuss bidirectional communication between the autonomic nervous system and peripheral tissues in the coordination of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as emerging therapies targeting autonomic pathways that could improve metabolic health.

Oestrogen levels change after menopause and with weight gain above the normal BMI category, both of which can affect breast cancer risk and outcomes. This Review explores the current understanding of these associations.

In addition to having health benefits for those who perform it, exercise might alter parental physiology in ways that support metabolic function in offspring. In this Review, the authors discuss animal studies and data from human study participants that show how exercise affects the placenta, breast milk and sperm in ways that improve offspring health.

Hypophysitis is a rare disease characterized by inflammation of the pituitary gland that can cause hypopituitarism-related symptoms, headaches and visual disturbances. This Review discusses the current understanding of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and clinical management of hypophysitis.

The use of adipokines and myokines measured in serum or cerebrospinal fluid as biomarkers or disease modifiers in neurological disorders is limited. Their permeability to the blood–brain barrier is either unknown or overlooked. A novel classification of adipokines and myokines on the basis of their cerebrospinal fluid to serum ratio is warranted.