• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Header Left

Get Up And Do Something

Header Right

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

  • Partners
  • About
  • Write For Us
  • Contact

Header Left

Get Up And Do Something

Header Right

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

  • Partners
  • About
  • Write For Us
  • Contact

  • Home
  • Eat Well
  • Move Well
  • Train Well
  • Be Well
  • Podcasts
  • Meet the Staff
  • Home
  • Eat Well
  • Move Well
  • Train Well
  • Be Well
  • Podcasts
  • Meet the Staff

Understanding Hormones: Leptin

I dont know. Studio shot of confused young african female can not make decision, shrugging shoulders and does not know what happened, dressed in white t shirt feeling embarrassed. Doubtfulness concept

August 3, 2022 //  by Kate Howland

Losing weight can already be challenging, but especially so if someone’s hormones are imbalanced. Leptin is one of those hormones that scientists are now finding more evidence related to how and why it affects people struggling with weight.

 Leptin’s function

  • The function of leptin is essentially to regulate our body weight. Produced by fat cells, this hormone tells our brains, when we have enough fat stored, we no longer need to eat, therefore burning calories at a normal rate. It is very effective at preventing starvation, however, sometimes there is something wrong in the mechanism that’s meant to keep us from overeating.

Leptin Resistance

  • Carried by the bloodstream and into your brain, fat cells use Leptin to signal how much fat they carry to the brain. High levels tell the brain there’s a lot of fat stored, and low levels tell the brain there is not enough fat storage and that we need to eat. 

 

  • With overweight individuals, specifically people with obesity, their leptin signaling may not work even if large amounts of leptin are present, the brain may not catch it. Leptin resistance is now believed to be one of the main biological contributors to obesity. Think about it, if the brain doesn’t receive the signals from leptin, it may think the body is starving. People with leptin resistance end up eating more than others and have reduced energy expenditure due to the broken mechanism.

 

  •  The impact this has on dieting is significant because once the fat is lost, leptin levels decrease, and the brain can interpret this as “starvation mode” therefore changing our inner biological behavior, making us regain the lost fat.

Can this be reversed?

  • It is not entirely clear how this can be reversed however theories exist. Some researchers believe avoiding processed foods, eating more soluble fiber, exercising, and sleeping more are all ways that can help reverse this. Fiber can help improve gut health, reducing diet-induced inflammation may help reverse leptin resistance and better exercise and sleep is always a good lifestyle change.

Stay tuned for more in the “Understanding Hormones” series!

Written by GUADs Summer intern Carla with contributions from www.healthline.com

Category: Eat WellTag: clean eating, healthy lifestyle, healthy weight, hormones, hunger, leptin, weight loss

Previous Post: « Better Decision Making and Monotonous Wardrobes?
Next Post: Heart Rate for Health »

Primary Sidebar

Read More EAT WELL Articles

Recent Posts

  • How to Be a Foam Rolling Master
  • Know What You’re Drinking This Spring Break
  • Tips For Self-Control This Spring Break
  • Cortisol-Conscious Workouts
  • Mid-Semester Burnout?

TEST

test

Get Our Mobile App

Get the Mobile App

Recent Podcasts

GUADS Podcast

Episode 20: Stress Basics

GUADS Podcast

Episode 23: Controlling Stress

GUADS Podcast

Episode 15: Navigating the Dating Scene

More Posts from this Category

Copyright © 2023 · Mai Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in