Hormonal Metabolism Weight Loss Research

In most first world country, obesity and the chronic diseases caused by being overweight is a recognized and stated health crisis. This condition is even declared as a worldwide epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). If you are overweight, then this article will have a direct impact on you to lead a healthier and happier life with much lower risks of weight related diseases.

Because of the huge negative health impact, loss of productivity, rising medical costs and subsidies and for the simple reason of aesthetics, huge amounts of research and billions of dollars are being invested each year to understand the obesity scourge and how to get rid of it.

The energy balance and body weight regulation are complex functions that are generally controlled by genetic disposition and hormones. It is known that our body weight is regulated around a very narrow range of about 10 to 15 pounds on the average.

This theory was developed because numerous research have shown that people who lost or gained a significant amount of weight usually returned to their starting point weight over a period of time. For those of you who have successfully lost weight before and gained it all back will not be surprised with this finding eh? So how do we overcome this problem?

You see, our body adapts to under or over eating by changing 3 basic metabolic functions. They are your resting metabolism rate, metabolism during physical activities and metabolism from the digestion of food that you consume. So during weight loss, your body's metabolic rate will slow down which in turn causing lesser calories to be expended or burnt off. This will make it more difficult for you to lose more weight and thus you stay within the boundaries of the weight range as discussed earlier.

There are many things which people do when undergoing a weight loss program that upset their metabolism mechanism which is why, most diets don't work! I bet you know that since you have probably been on some kind of diets before. This is because the diets are either too hard to maintain or if you have lost some weight, you would have probably put them all back again, didn't you?

Now for the good news. You can actually tweak your body's own natural leptin production to lose and maintain your weight permanently. Errr.....never heard of leptin before?

What is Leptin? Why is it a weight loss hormone?

Then in 1950, scientists found a genetic defect in mice that led to spiralling morbid obesity in a controlled experiment. They found out that mice with this condition weighed up to 3 times that of the average mice and that they had a much more ravenous appetite. The scientists further discovered that these obese mice were deficient in a blood-borne protein that regulated hunger and body weight. This protein was identified as leptin in 1995 and its name is derived from the Greek word "thin".

The hormone leptin is now accepted as the main regulator of appetite and metabolism in human beings. This hormone is mainly secreted from our fatty tissues, although small amounts of leptin are also produced in the stomach and the placenta.

Leptins bind to receptors that cause hormonal signals to be released that can limit hunger and thus controlled food consumption. The greatest concentration of leptin receptors is found in the hypothalamus part of the brain and as such, the hypothalamus plays a vital role in a person's body weight regulation.

The leptin hormone has numerous effects on the body which include:-

• Hunger inhibition
  
  
• Raise metabolism and thus burn more fat

• Stimulates fat burning activities in the muscles and liver

Now, since most leptin is produced from fatty tissues, then overweight and obese people will have more leptins, right? So why are they still overweight? You see, it is now known that consistently elevated leptin levels impair the function of the leptin receptors, thereby requiring greater leptin secretion to produce the same effect. So production of more leptin to lose weight is not the answer to fat loss but regulating its production is.

In other words, to lose weight with the help of leptin, you must know when to eat, what to eat and how often to eat, yes, even food chock full of carbs and calories if eaten at the correct time and quantity can help you to produce leptin to lose weight!. You can read more about this at How To Eat Your Way Thin.

You will also be glad to know that not only does the hormone leptin impact metabolism and hunger control, leptin also plays important roles in your immunity system, lung function, bone development and even reproduction. Now that you know what this weight loss hormone can do for your weight problem, then read How To Lose Weight Fast and drop pounds and pounds of fat week after week to become thinner, healthier and looking great at the same time!


Best wishes to a new, slimmer and healthier you.



Your friend to excellent health.