Does Leptin Hold the Key to Weight-Loss in Women?
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What is Leptin? ď ľ Leptin
is a hormone that plays a "pivotal role" in regulating food intake and energy output.
ď ľA
protein which circulates in the bloodstream and goes to the brain leptin was discovered in 1994 and it was quickly touted as a weight loss treatment. www.slim-and-trim.com www.slim-and-trim.com
The Leptin Cycle ď ľ Some
researchers have concluded that leptin’s role is to enable fat cells to keep the brain up to date on their energy levels.
ď ľ When
leptin levels reach a certain threshold, the brain can tell that the body has sufficient energy and a person is able to engage in normal activities and is inclined to eat normally. www.slim-and-trim.com www.slim-and-trim.com
Starvation Signals ď ľ
However, when a person goes on a diet and their fat levels decrease, their leptin levels also fall.
ď ľ
This may be interpreted by the brain as a danger signal that the body is in a state of starvation.
ď ľ
The brain then inclines the individual to want to eat, so that the necessary leptin levels can be restored. www.slim-and-trim.com www.slim-and-trim.com
Leptin Resistance ď ľ
Under normal circumstances, when leptin levels return to their safe levels, the brain should then send the individual signals of satiety and incline them to stop eating.
ď ľ
However, this does not always happen.
ď ľ
Some individuals have what scientists call "leptin resistance", whereby the body has large amounts of leptin, but the brain is not being given the signal to stop eating.
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Leptin and Women ď ľ Research
suggests that woman tend to have higher levels of leptin than men, possibly because the hormone plays a role in female reproduction.
ď ľ It
is also likely that "leptin resistance" is also greater in women than in men, potentially making it harder for women to lose weight. www.slim-and-trim.com www.slim-and-trim.com
Leptin and Women ď ľ Can
women's greater potential for producing leptin ever be used to their advantage?
ď ľ By
reversing the modern tendency towards leptin resistance, some researchers believe women can dramatically improve their ability to lose weight permanently! www.slim-and-trim.com www.slim-and-trim.com