Research
Hormonal
Peripheral leptin action (on pancreas, muscle, liver) is not required for normal energy balance or body weight regulation in mice, as peripheral LEPRb deletion does not alter these metrics.
While leptin affects organs like the liver and muscle, its main job for weight control is signaling to the brain. Peripheral effects are secondary to the central nervous system's regulation.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
Surprisingly, genetic deletion of LEPR in these peripheral tissues does not alter energy balance, body weight, or glucose homeostasis in mice... Therefore, under normal conditions, leptin controls energy balance, body weight, and systemic metabolism primarily by activating LEPRb in the brain.
Why this rating
Based on specific genetic knockout studies cited in the review.
Source
Recent advances in understanding leptin signaling and leptin resistance
David L. Morris et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2009
DOI 10.1152/ajpendo.00274.2009
narrative_reviewCited 466×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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