It is intended to provide a method for evaluating a compound which regulates eating or body weight characterized by comprising the steps of introducing a BARLP gene and preparing a cell expressing BARLP; bringing a test compound into contact with the cell; and detecting a specific binding of the test compound to the BARLP and a method for evaluating a compound further comprising the step of evaluating a test compound using a nonhuman genetically-engineered animal in which the BARLP gene is inactivated. According to this invention, knowledge about a relationship between BARLP and biological functions is obtained and a method for evaluating a compound targeting BARLP and a BARLP ligand obtained by the evaluation can be provided.