Leptin Resistance: Is it the ‘mystery’ behind stagnate weight
So, you ve tried everything. Personal trainers. Gym memberships. Nutritional counseling. Stapling, banding and restricting. Storefront to door-front weight loss ready meals. Weekly support groups. Seminars. Journaling. Books, DVD s and downloadable apps. By now you could be the one giving the advice on what s available in the wild-world-of-weight-loss. But you d struggle to explain why nothing seems to work for you. If it s any consolation, you re not alone.
The only thing missing from your repertoire of weight loss is the results you ve desperately tried but have yet to achieve. Before you throw yourself into the pit of despair there might be a very good answer for your hit-and-miss results. It could be as benign and simple as two little words that work against your goals: Leptin Resistance. However, don t rest on that answer. The good news is you can help your body can change if you understand and know what to do when nothing seems to follow your leading, from the inside out.
Leptin: What is it?
Leptin, the satiety hormone , is a hormone made by fat cells which regulates the amount of fat stored in the body. (Wikipedia)
Leptin is produced in proportion to body fat mass and can act on the brain to induce satiety and regulate adipose tissue mass; factors other than adipose tissue mass may influence circulating Leptin concentractions. ()
The role of Leptin in our body is somewhat like our home s HVAC system. We set the temperature and the heat or air conditioning kicks in when our home drops below or rises above the desired setting. In like, Leptin performs very much the same way. Here s why:
*Leptin is a protein, made in our fat cells
*Leptin s primary role is to circulate through our bloodstream to our brain, regulating consumption
*Leptin interacts with our brain, effecting our metabolism, engaging our body to burn energy
*Leptin levels change when we consume or starve our body
*Leptin lowers when we starve ourselves and reduces what the body requires to function under normal, balanced levels
*Leptin signals the brain to slow down the metabolic processes in the body once it senses we re in starvation-mode
What happens once we get into the tail spin of starvation mode is the key behind the vicious cycle of burn vs store. Our bodies naturally store until it s time to utilize what we need to survive. Fat cells are both blessing and curse (to most of us). One primary purpose is to help our body survive through the slowing down of utilization (energy the body needs). But once our energy levels begin to drop below what is normal for our body, Leptin begins demanding us to replenish (eat) our body s personal requirements. But sometimes, Leptin builds a resistance resulting in not sending the signal to tell the brain to stop overeating when we don t really need to replenish. Understanding what might cause resistance is critical to our body changing the outcome. Read on ..
High fat diets
According to a 2011 study, high fat diets might contribute to Leptin resistance:
Ingestion of high-fat, high-calorie diets is associated with hyperphagia, increased body fat,Ebola Virus In Nigeria Confir, and obesity. The mechanisms responsible are currently unclear; however, altered Leptin signaling may be an important factor. ()
VAN
Our bodies are complex, nerve responding systems that interact with the brain every time we do anything. So it makes sense that what we mostly consume would have an overall impact on our physical, mental, emotional responses. According to a 2011 research (), high fat, high calorie diets may impact and possibly alter Leptin signaling.
Vagal afferent neurons (VAN) integrate signals from the gut in response to ingestion of nutrients and express Leptin receptors.When the Vagus nerve is functioning properly, Leptin re-builds in our fat cells, telling our brain we re satiated. However,In Chinese shadow, Hong Kong fights for its future, in the case of obesity the receptors may not receive the signal even when adequate amounts of Leptin are present, creating a disconnect resulting in over eating and weight gain.
Whether or not we re justifiably hungry (or just not receiving the satiety signal) should be monitored by facts (what we ve consumed) versus internal driven responses. When we re trying to manage our weight, our brain takes notice of our behavior. While the brain is trying to catch up with our new lifestyle, it s also still recognizing the past signals it s become accustomed to following. When we re over-weight and/or obese, we should have more than adequate levels of Leptin. Ordinarily, we d assume that if our body fat percentage is high our Leptin would signal satiety (because we have plenty in storage, right?). However, think again.
Fat storage and Leptin levels: Why obesity shifts our thinking
Obesity can impact many routine functions(i.e. brain signaling) and internal responses(Leptin) that non-obese bodies are not affected by. When we overeat, gaining excessive weight (obesity) our brain slowly stops responding as it ordinarily would under balanced, healthy circumstances. Although the reason for the resistance isn t fully known, the thought is that the brain s receptors aren t receiving the signal to tell the body it s satiated. The result of the imbalance can lead to a condition known as Leptin resistance .
Our natural instinct is to think that our body will shift and balance the internal scales when needed. But, in some cases (i.e. obesity),The 2016 Plan (Heat, not Bull, those scales won t correct themselves systematically and/or instinctively. Instead, they ll fail to tell the brain the body is satisfied, leading to over compensation. As they do so, our body only knows to do one thing: Store the overcompensation in our fat cells. As it does, our Leptin increases but so does one other primary outcome: Higher body fat percentage. In addition to our Leptin response, is our behavior recognition. Once behavior becomes established the brain begins to recognize any changes occurring within those levels and naturally shifts to protect their future (resisting the lowering of body fat). Thus the vicious cycle begins, signaling our brain to consume more than we should when in reality we needed to stop eating more than a few bites ago.

Habits = Behavior
We ve all heard that healthy habits help form healthy lives, right? Yes! But how do you tell your brain it s time to change how it responds to your Leptin levels? How do you differentiate between the do s and don ts of weight management (loss or gain) in your brain? If your body has become Leptin resistant is there any hope you ever will overcome obesity and past habits/behavior?
As simple as it sounds, you can change the way your brain responds to forming healthy habits. Unless you have a disease that suppresses your body to work efficiently and effectively (i.e. disease and illnesses related to the thyroid, physical limited mobility, etc.), your brain will adapt as change consistently occurs and followed. The only person who knows, whether or not we re staying completely disciplined, is ourselves.
Discipline is hard, but it s necessary in every aspect of life. For the same reasons we set an alarm to wake up and go to work, or manage our life in other ways, we must discipline our lifestyle and choices to become healthier every single day. If we are made aware that our Leptin has become resistant we must become insistent upon working with our body and not against it through what we consume.
High fat diets and nutrition s effect on Leptin
Over-consumption of certain food = higher body fat percentage. Those foods include:
*Fast food (fried, high sodium, low nutritional content)
*Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup
*Processed foods (boxed, canned and frozen food that has been modified/added to)
Each of the above negatively affect our health and satisfy our hunger for only short periods of time. Excessive calories and high fatty foods (fast food, fried food) increase body fat percentage and likely negatively affect Leptin receptors.
Nutritional plan
What s the answer? you may ask. To start, seek advice for your condition from your doctor. Talk to your physician about creating a balanced, nutritional and fitness plan that is suitable for your budget and lifestyle. Not every condition or situation is the same. You may want a more complex answer, but getting started is just that simple. The steps to getting from where you are today to your future goal will be the greatest challenge but the journey will be well worth it.
Before deciding upon surgery and supplements, seek out a nutritional professional who is trained in creating personalized programs that incorporate both nutrition and fitness to meet your needs. If you are under a physician s care, ask for a referral to see a Registered Dietitian who can help you establish a nutritional plan based upon your health condition. If the RD recommends supplements, ask how long and why you are taking them. The goal should be to help your body help itself. However, sometimes your body may have come to a point where it needs additional help.
If you've been diagnosed with a health condition that is negatively impacting your weight, don't give in or give up. No matter what, our body needs healthy nutrition with every single bite!
Quick Tips for Wellness: Develop a plan. Think before you eat. Journal what you've consumed. Set achievable goals.
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