Resistance to Hormone Leptin Called Key to Obesity

(Page 2)

Licinio cited two interesting implications of the research. The first is that, in mice at least, leptin resistance is what he calls "functional," not permanent, and can be corrected by diet-induced weight loss.

Said Cowley: "If we put the obese animals on a low-fat diet, they recover from leptin resistance and drop weight. And when they recover, all the circuitry responses return to normal. We don't know if humans would respond in the same way, but we know that weight loss in humans is beneficial, even if you don't hit the ideal target weight."

Licinio also said the study suggests potential targets for drug development to fight excess weight. But, he added, "What the paper does not show is how resistance occurs and how you can overcome it."

One interesting facet of the findings, Cowley said, is the recognition that obesity, like diabetes, is truly a physical disease. "Obesity is not just a failure of will," he said. "This is a fundamental biological difference between obese and lean groups."

Licino said: "I think the take-home message is that (this study) gives hope. You need the caveat that it's not the same between mice and humans, but it does give hope that loss of a person's (ability) to regulate what they eat can be restored to maintain a normal weight."

More information

For more information on obesity, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.