Research

Hormonal

Leptin acts as an anorexigenic signal by binding to LEPRb in the hypothalamus, activating the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K pathways to stimulate POMC and inhibit AgRP neurons, thereby reducing food intake and increasing energy expenditure.

Your body produces leptin to tell your brain you are full. In obesity, this signal often gets ignored (leptin resistance). You cannot simply 'take' leptin to fix this. Focus on strategies that may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, which are linked to leptin signaling, rather than seeking leptin-based supplements which are ineffective for most.

StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
Leptin binds to LEPRb and activates JAK2, which, in turn, phosphorylates several tyrosine residues on the intracellular domain of the LEPRb. This results in the activation, dimerization, and nuclear translocation of STAT3... In the nucleus, STAT3 enhances Pomc gene expression and inhibits Agrp gene expression... Leptin stimulates Pomc transcription, depolarizes POMC neurons, and also increases a-MSH processing and secretion... while attenuating the expression and release of orexigenic NPY and AGRP neuropeptides.
Marc Schneeberger et al. · Journal of Endocrinology · 2013

Why this rating

The paper cites extensive genetic, pharmacological, and electrophysiological evidence from multiple studies (knockout mice, human mutations) confirming the pathway.

Source

Hypothalamic and brainstem neuronal circuits controlling homeostatic energy balance

Marc Schneeberger et al. · Journal of Endocrinology · 2013

DOI 10.1530/joe-13-0398

narrative_reviewCited 289×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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