Hormonal
Genetic deficiency of leptin causes severe obesity in mice, which is completely reversed by leptin replacement therapy, demonstrating that leptin is essential for maintaining body weight homeostasis.
This finding explains why leptin injections are not a viable treatment for the vast majority of people with obesity. In common obesity, the body already produces high levels of leptin, but the brain fails to respond to it (leptin resistance). Therefore, treatments must address the resistance mechanism or target downstream pathways rather than simply replacing the hormone.
It is now well established that the pronounced obesity in genetically leptin-deficient ob/ob mice is due to the loss of a centrally active feeding-inhibitory messenger, as in these animals restitution of the leptin signal normalizes food intake and body weight (Fig. 2).
Why this rating
Based on seminal, replicated genetic and pharmacological studies in animal models cited by the author.
Source
Brain regulation of food intake and appetite: molecules and networks
Christian Broberger · Journal of Internal Medicine · 2005
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2005.01553.x
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