Lepti-what??
It’ s name is Leptin( derived from the Greek word leptos, meaning“ thin”), and it’ s without a doubt the most important hormone you probably never heard of.
You see, leptin was only first discovered just over 10 years ago, and as far as weight loss is concerned, that’ s extremely recent.
Leptin’ s function? To communicate your nutritional status to your body and brain.
Leptin levels are mediated by two things. One is your level of body fat. All else being equal, people with higher levels of body fat will have higher leptin levels than those with lower levels of body fat and vice versa.
Because leptin is secreted by fat cells, it makes sense that under normal conditions there is a direct correlation between leptin levels and the amount of fat you are carrying.
Unfortunately, when you’ re attempting to lose fat and begin to restrict calories, conditions are anything but“ normal” and the body responds accordingly by lowering leptin levels.
This is because the second mediator of leptin levels is your calorie intake. Lower your calorie intake and leptin will fall, independent of body fat.
2010 Joel Marion Fitness Solutions LLC and XtremeFatLossDiet 6