Leptin Resistance and Weight LossIs leptin resistance keeping you from losing weight? If you are currently overweight then...Yes! It Is! Resistance to this important hormone may, indeed, be keeping you from shedding those extra pounds. Here’s why...
What is Leptin?
Although only recently discovered, it is becoming increasingly apparent that leptin is an important hormone in the regulation of body weight - maybe even as important as insulin!
But, at first glance, the actions of this hormone can be somewhat confusing. Leptin is a fat-reducing hormone that acts on the central nervous system by decreasing appetite and increasing your metabolic rate. Leptin is secreted by fat cells and is and is present in the serum in direct proportion to the amount of fat you have. Because it is secreted by fat cells and acts to reduce fat, leptin should function as a self-regulating weight-control mechanism. When you gain weight (as fat) your leptin levels rise. Higher levels of leptin, should then reduce your appetite and increase your metabolic rate helping you lose that excess body fat. Conversely, when you lose body fat, your leptin levels fall. This would be expected to increase your appetite and lower your metabolic rate so that you conserve body fat. At least not in people who are overweight. In fact, research has shown that lowering leptin levels in overweight people is associated with weight loss. This seeming contradiction is due to a condition known as leptin resistance.
Excess Body Weight and Leptin Resistance
Because leptin is secreted by fat cells and is present in the blood in direct proportion to the amount of fat you have, over weight people should have high levels of leptin.
But it doesn’t help them lose weight as one would expect. This is due to a condition known as leptin resistance. When you develop resistance to leptin, your body’s tissues become “desensitized” to the hormone. This means that, although leptin levels are high, the brain perceives them as being low - and it responds accordingly. As a result, rather than increasing your metabolic rate and decreasing your appetite, you brain slows your metabolic rate, stimulates appetite and promotes fat synthesis. Ironically, research shows that lowering leptin levels in overweight people can restore their malfunctioning leptin system, re-sensitize tissues to leptin and stimulate weight loss. In fact…
Obesity causes an increase in leptin levels, but leptin levels also tend to rise with age. This rise in leptin levels may be related to the decline in other hormones that occur with aging. Estrogen deficiency in particular has been shown to increase leptin levels - one more reason why women gain weight after menopause (for more information on weight loss after menopause click here)
Reducing Resistance to LeptinWhile weight loss itself has been shown to lower leptin levels and to improve sensitivity to this important hormone, certain supplements and lifestyle changes also appear to stimulate weight loss by lowering levels of this hormone.To learn more about ways to lower your leptin levels click here. Leptin Supplements and Weight Loss
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