Here, we show that anterior BNST (aBNST) neurons coexpressing GABA and the opioid-like peptide nociceptin (a) inhibited arcuate AgRP/NPY neurons via GABAergic transmission to suppress food intake independent of changes in anxiety; (b) showed increases in endogenous activity at the initiation of feeding, which was temporally consistent with the reduction in AgRP/NPY activity; (c) regulated body weight; and (d) received afferent inputs from a range of upstream brain regions. The gene discussed is PNOC; the disease is Anxiety.