Obesity has been traditionally viewed as an energy regulation disorder, and research on its brain underpinnings has been focused on the hypothalamus. Nevertheless, increases in food availability and changes in lifestyle have made evident that extra-hypothalamic brain systems including frontal-striatal systems involved in motivated behavior, emotion and decision-making are needed to control weight. I will present evidence from brain imaging studies showing that striatal, insula and prefrontal cortical systems involved in reward processing, interoception (perception of bodily changes) and food choices are linked to obesity, and can hinder attempts to control weight.