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High Leptin Levels

May 12, 2011 | By Tina Andrews
High Leptin Levels
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All living organisms take nutrients from the environment to generate the energy needed to survive. Hunger is a potent, primal drive that compels you to eat, ensuring your body has an adequate energy supply. In 1994, scientists discovered the hormone leptin, which influences your hunger drive by conveying information about your energy reserves. The more body fat you have, the higher your leptin level is and the less hunger you experience.

Production

Your fat cells, also known as adipocytes, are the primary producers of leptin. Your stomach and some other tissues produce lesser amounts of leptin. Overeating and an associated increase in your total body fat drive up your leptin level, which normally suppresses your appetite. This effect helps to keep your body weight relatively stable over time.

Resistance

You may wonder why a high leptin level does not more effectively prevent overweight and obesity. The fact that people who are overweight and obese have elevated leptin levels demonstrates that increased hormone production occurs as expected. However, a persistently elevated leptin level leads to resistance, meaning your brain does not respond normally to the hormone. Your brain's capacity to "ignore" an elevated leptin level is similar to developing tolerance to pain medication, caffeine or alcohol. Exposing your brain to these substances on a regular basis leads to less responsiveness to the chemical in question.

Additionally, leptin resistance is only one of several factors that contribute to the development of overweight and obesity. Other hormones and nervous system mechanisms influence your brain's hunger center and metabolic rate. Psychosocial factors also commonly contribute to overweight and obesity.

Blood Pressure Connection

A high leptin level associated with overweight or obesity may contribute to high blood pressure. Leptin stimulates nerves that speed your heart rate and cause narrowing of your blood vessels, contributing to increased blood pressure. A high leptin level may also lead to excess sodium and water retention by your kidneys, further increasing your blood pressure.

When High Leptin Levels Fall

If you have ever gone an very low calorie diet, you can attest to the fact that overwhelming hunger kicks in within a few days. This effect is at least partially due to a falling leptin level in response to weight loss. This response is a survival mechanism; your body interprets a falling leptin level as evidence of starvation. In addition to increasing hunger, your metabolic rate slows to conserve energy. These responses may contribute to difficulty maintaining your weight loss once you reach your goal weight, especially if you have been on a "crash" diet.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: May 12, 2011

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