Why does leptin not work for obesity?
Leptin must cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to reach the hypothalamus and exert its anorexigenic functions. The mechanisms involved in leptin transportation across the blood–brain barrier continue to be unclear, thereby preventing the clinical application of leptin in the treatment of obesity.
Can leptin be used for treatment of obesity?
Leptin therapy is useful in treating obesity related to congenital leptin deficiency. Leptin has been recently approved for lipodystrophy, which is a model for typical obesity. Typical obesity presents with leptin resistance but leptin may still be valuable after weight loss or in conjunction with other therapies.
How does leptin affect obesity?
Leptin resistance is characterized by reduced satiety, over-consumption of nutrients, and increased total body mass. Often this leads to obesity, which reduces the effectiveness of using exogenous leptin as a therapeutic agent.
Why is leptin resistant?
Leptin resistance usually develops over time due to three primary factors: (1) too little sleep, (2) too much stress and (3) too much of the wrong foods. Other factors that can contribute to its development include: Overeating. High insulin levels.
What are the side effects of leptin?
Common side effects of Myalept include:headache,low blood sugar,weight loss,abdominal pain,joint pain,dizziness,ear infection,fatigue,More items...
What is the role of leptin?
The role of leptin in energy homeostasis. The circulating leptin level serves as a gauge for energy reserves and directs the central nervous system to adjust food intake and energy expenditure accordingly. Leptin exerts immediate effects by acting on the brain to regulate appetite (Figure 1).