Hormonal
In humans, endogenous leptin does not prevent obesity because obese individuals develop resistance to its effects, primarily due to impaired blood-brain barrier transport and intracellular signaling inhibition.
Your body's natural weight-control hormone (leptin) is present in high amounts but isn't working effectively due to resistance. This is a common physiological state in obesity, not a personal failure. While leptin itself isn't a magic bullet for weight loss in this state, understanding this resistance highlights why simple caloric restriction often triggers strong hunger signals (as leptin drops), making long-term management challenging without addressing the underlying energy balance.
This suggests that obese humans are resistant to the effects of endogenous leptin. This resistance is also shown by the lack of effect of exogenous leptin administration to induce weight loss in obese patients.
Why this rating
Based on a comprehensive review of clinical observations, rodent models, and molecular mechanisms described in the text.
Source
Leptin Signaling, Adiposity, and Energy Balance
Eric Jéquier · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2002
DOI 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04293.x
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