Leptin is a hormone that works as an appetite suppressant. When everything functions properly, it helps you maintain a healthy weight by balancing the amount of food you eat with how much fat you have.
High leptin levels signal your brain that you’re full, which makes you less hungry.
But what if that doesn’t happen? What if your body becomes resistant to leptin?
Sometimes your brain tells you to eat more even when you have plenty of leptin and lots of fat cells. That’s called leptin resistance.
Leptin resistance can lead to overeating and excess fat storage.
Other health problems can mess with your leptin signaling too. For example, chronic inflammation and high levels of triglycerides can make it harder for leptin to cross the blood-brain barrier.
So if you have trouble losing weight, leptin AND insulin resistance can be playing a role.