204 | id == 204
204 | category_id == 18
204 | category_order == 15
204 | category_name == Weight
204 | category_color == #C47AC0
204 | slug == LEPR-weight
204 | title == A Gene That Controls Hunger and Satiety (LEPR)
204 | meta_description == LEPR encodes the receptor for leptin, a hormone that lets us know when we've had enough to eat. What is its role in obesity?
204 | summary == <p><strong>LEPR encodes the receptor for leptin, a hormone that lets us know when we&#39;ve had enough to eat. What is its role in obesity? Read on to find out.</strong></p>
204 | overall_score_text == Leptin Sensitivity Score (based on LEPR)
204 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/LEPR--Weight.jpg
204 | author_id == 1
204 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
204 | author_title == BSc, BEd
204 | author_order == 36
204 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
204 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
204 | reviewer == None
204 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
204 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
204 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
204 | publish_date == 2020
204 | publish_date == 6
204 | publish_date == 5
204 | avg_rating == 5.0
204 | tags_id == 471
204 | tags_name == Hunger
204 | tags_id == 472
204 | tags_name == LEPR Gene
204 | tags_id == 456
204 | tags_name == Leptin
204 | tags_id == 473
204 | tags_name == Leptin Resistance
204 | tags_id == 470
204 | tags_name == Satiety
204 | tags_id == 115
204 | tags_name == Weight Gain
204 | tags_id == 184
204 | tags_name == Weight Loss
204 | permissions_favorite == False
204 | permissions_rate == False
204 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. If you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight, seek medical help. </span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep in mind that these results are based on association studies, which are correlative and aren&rsquo;t necessarily causative. Any single genetic variant will typically contribute only a small proportion to the overall risk of the condition, and non-genetic factors play a large role in developing a condition as well. Therefore, just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at an increased risk of developing this condition!</span></em></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Leptin?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leptin is one of the two major hormones that control appetite and food intake, along with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ghrelin-role-cognitive-gut-function-weight-inflammation-autoimmunity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ghrelin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Where ghrelin triggers feelings of hunger, however, leptin increases feelings of fullness and typically encourages us to stop eating [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6354688/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Initially, leptin was only known to be secreted by fat tissue and to circulate at levels directly proportional to the total amount of fat in the body [</span><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0083360#B6">R</a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leptin is now known to be produced by various tissues and organs including the placenta, kidney, salivary glands, and stomach [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9288733/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10215465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570946/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1727985/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &amp; the Theory of Leptin Resistance</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some researchers believe that high chronically high leptin (produced by large quantities of fat tissue, for example) might reduce the sensitivity of leptin receptors. This could lead to a state called leptin resistance, similar to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> resistance in diabetes. People who are resistant to leptin would be less likely to feel full after eating; this could, in turn, lead to overeating and additional weight gain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6354688/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4069066/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes the leptin receptor and is a prime candidate gene for susceptibility to leptin resistance. Researchers argue that people with fewer or less sensitive leptin receptors would be more likely to develop resistance and more likely to be overweight. Other researchers argue the opposite: that highly sensitive leptin receptors may trigger the feedback loop leading to leptin resistance [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4069066/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967652/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the mechanism is still murky, quite a bit of research is available associating specific alleles of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants with weight gain and obesity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite and increases feelings of fullness. The receptors for leptin may become desensitized, leading to leptin resistance and weight gain.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR Variants &amp; Weight</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants are currently under investigation for their possible link to leptin resistance and obesity. The most important of these are rs1137100 and rs1137101.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At rs1137100, the common &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele is associated with higher BMI and the uncommon &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele is associated with lower BMI among European teenagers. At rs1137101, the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype is associated with higher weight, higher BMI, and increased daily intake of calories. People with the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype at rs1137101 are also likely to have higher </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, higher blood sugar, and insulin resistance [</span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2011.74"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3396002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs have been linked to weight gain and obesity as well. These include rs11208659-T, rs11804091-G, rs10157275-T, rs9436303-G, rs1627238-T, and rs1805134-C [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5578080/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5224584/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your LEPR Results for Weight</span></h2> <p>*4775550644309496*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><strong>LEPR rs1137100</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with obesity; higher BMI</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with obesity; lower BMI</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs1137101</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with higher BMI, higher weight, increased daily intake of calories</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with lower BMI, lower weight, decreased daily intake of calories</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs11208659</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not protective against childhood obesity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Possibly protective against childhood obesity</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs11804091</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with obesity in children</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with higher rates of obesity in children</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs10157275</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with obesity in children</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with higher rates of obesity in children</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs9436303</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with obesity in children</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with higher rates of obesity in children</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs1627238</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with obesity in children</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with higher rates of obesity in children</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>LEPR rs1805134</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;CC&rsquo; = Not associated with morbid obesity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;CT&rsquo; = Associated with significantly higher rates of morbid obesity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;TT&rsquo; = Possibly protective against morbid obesity</span></li> </ul> <p>*8627272988481145*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations for Increasing Leptin Sensitivity</span></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may try the complementary approaches listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate for you. Discuss the strategies listed here with your doctor. Remember that none of them should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.</span></em></p> <p>*7730854679724997*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Physical </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and long-term fitness seem to decrease total leptin production and make people less likely to develop leptin resistance [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22975643/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056484/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11157319/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">High-intensity exercise is probably the best strategy to </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lose weight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In addition to promoting fat burning, the increased </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/norepinephrine-stress-hormone/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">norepinephrine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> production may suppress food intake according to a study in rats [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5124188"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being active burns calories and jump-starts metabolism. Some studies suggest it also </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-natural-ways-to-increase-bdnf/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">increases </span></a><a href="../article/boost-plasticity-with-the-bdnf-gene-50"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which supports mental health and might cause us to eat less [</span><a href="http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/neuro.24.005.2010/full"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> also increases </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/endorphins/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">endorphins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which activates mu-opioid receptors and also suppresses appetite [</span><a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120717/Mu-opioid-receptors-put-brakes-on-appetite.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aerobic exercise (like walking, running, swimming, etc) has also been shown to cause major reductions in belly fat in multiple studies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17637702"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21951360"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yoga</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may also be a useful tool for </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4995338/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5098025/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198375/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Physical fitness decreases total leptin production, reducing the chances of developing leptin resistance. Exercise is also a central part of any weight loss regime.</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress Management</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leptin resistance and stress may form a feedback loop wherein each contributes to the other: people with detrimental </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants may have higher baseline stress, and people under a lot of stress may be more likely to develop leptin resistance [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19608021/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201136"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/2015/01/15/stress-bad-uncovering-hidden-effects-stress/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is known to cause weight gain. Stress increases </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and dynorphin, both of which cause weight gain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2819644/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5373497/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24123563/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It also increases </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glutamate/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glutamate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which increases appetite, while decreases </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/all-about-nerve-growth-factor-and-50-ways-to-increase-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NGF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-natural-ways-to-increase-bdnf/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, both of which are appetite suppressants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16132059"><span style="font-weight: 400;">19</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, it makes the brain resistant to </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-serotonin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a neurotransmitter that also suppresses appetite. Stress also causes resistance to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/dopamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dopamine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which may cause us to eat more as we&rsquo;ll need to eat more food for the same rewarding effects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14993070"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2255482311700200"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/10/15/31146.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Psychological stress is associated with both weight gain and leptin resistance.</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Improve Sleep Quantity &amp; Quality</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple animal studies have suggested a close relationship between </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/sleep-neurophysiology/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sleep</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and leptin.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a mouse study, chronic jet lag disrupted the clock in fat cells and induced leptin resistance in the brain [</span><a href="http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/abstract/S1550-4131(15)00272-7"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Poor sleep can increase </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-10-ways-to-curb-your-hunger-and-approaches-that-didnt-work/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">hunger</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and cravings and disrupt hunger hormones like </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ghrelin-role-cognitive-gut-function-weight-inflammation-autoimmunity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ghrelin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/all-about-leptin-its-role-in-chronic-inflammation-cfs-and-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">leptin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2009.01262.x/full"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0010062"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Short </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-sleep/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sleep </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">duration has been associated with weight gain in many studies. A meta-analysis of 30 studies and over 630,000 people associated short sleep duration with a 55% higher incidence of obesity in adults and 89% in children [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18239586"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3973603/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2398753/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One study suggested that night-shift workers, who must be awake, active, and eating during the night seem to be at a higher risk of obesity and metabolic diseases [</span><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025079#pone.0025079-Knutsson1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Leptin is reliant on the sleep cycle; poor or limited sleep may induce leptin resistance and has also been associated with weight gain.</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Positive Social Interactions</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leptin and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/the-social-chilled-out-and-empathetic-genes-oxytocin-receptor-snps/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxytocin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the hormone primarily responsible for social bonding, communicate closely with one another. In fact, some researchers have considered oxytocin administration as a possible complementary treatment for leptin resistance in obese patients; however, this approach remains unproven [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3601091/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4525065/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oxytocin is released by positive human interactions and has been shown to decrease hunger in multiple animal studies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3603288/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The experience of love also increases NGF, which reduces appetite, and increases endorphins, which activate mu-opioid receptors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16289361"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The &ldquo;love hormone&rdquo; oxytocin interacts closely with leptin and has been studied for its ability to decrease hunger.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diet</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reducing Carbohydrates</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with potentially detrimental </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEPR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants may be more likely to gain weight from eating carbohydrates [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116060/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial on 119 overweight people, a low-carbohydrate </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ketogenic-diet-ketosis-health-benefits-physiology-genetics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ketogenic diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was as effective as a low-fat diet for weight loss but had the advantages that it reduced appetite and negative affect. A meta-analysis of 13 studies and over 1,500 people concluded that low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets are more effective than low-fat diets for losing weight [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17228046"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23651522"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Polyphenol-Rich Fruits &amp; Vegetables</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In animals, the consumption of polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables prevented leptin resistance [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6133929/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vegetables are rich in soluble fiber, which has been shown to cause weight loss in some studies. Fiber gets broken down by bacteria in the digestive tract to produce </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-butyrate-derivatives-sodium-butyrate-phenylbutyrate-trybutyrine-butyric-acid-butyrate-prodrugs-butyrate-producing-bacteria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">butyrate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which has weight loss effects in animals [</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566639790091X"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18031592"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21810257"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699871/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fruits have been useful weight management foods as well. In a study of 91 obese individuals, eating half a fresh </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/grapefruit/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">grapefruit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> before meals caused weight loss of 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) over a period of 12 weeks [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16579728"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Polyphenols from various fruits (including </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/blueberries-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blueberries</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and apples) led to lower weight in animal studies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23936120"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23529981"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Spicy Foods</span></h4> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/capsaicin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Capsaicin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> acts on a receptor called </span><a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/gene/trpv1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the activation of which is believed to prevent leptin resistance in mice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5426284/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1 may also speed up the metabolism, increase energy expenditure, and reduce appetite [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3699483/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13129472"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22378725"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15611784"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When ingested orally with </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/green-tea/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">green tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, capsaicin reduced appetite and food intake in humans. Early research indicates that taking capsaicin as a </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplement is safe, but more must be known about its effectiveness [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477151/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5426284/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24941669/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you like spicy food, you&rsquo;re in luck: capsaicin is found in chili peppers and is responsible for their spicy flavor. The spicier the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13129472"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22378725"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Increasing polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables, eating spicy foods, and avoiding carbohydrates may help improve leptin sensitivity.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Berberine</span></h4> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/19-health-benefits-of-berberine-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Berberine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplementation reduced BMI and enhanced leptin sensitivity in 37 patients with metabolic syndrome. In another study, it caused an average weight loss of 5 lbs (2.3 kg) and lowered blood lipids [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3310165/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22739410"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a 2020 review of human and animal studies, berberine might contribute to weight loss by improving </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-your-gut-microbiota-can-make-you-fat-or-thin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gut microbiota</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glucose</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and fat metabolism [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32353823/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yerba Mate</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/21-health-benefits-yerba-mate/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">yerba mate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> appeared to prevent leptin resistance. Its effect on leptin in humans has gone largely unstudied, though some research suggests that it may be useful as a weight management tool [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25241125/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplementation with yerba mate (3 g/day for 12 weeks) reduced body fat mass, body fat percentage, and waist-hip ratios of 30 obese participants, with no adverse side effects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4583719/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yerba mate supplementation (1,000 mg) before exercise increased fat metabolism (fatty acid oxidation) and the energy used metabolizing the fat (crossover study with 14 healthy participants) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4190939/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a mouse study, yerba mate supplementation decreased food intake and energy use and reduced the levels of cholesterol, </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/triglycerides/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">triglycerides</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and sugar in the blood. Additionally, it reduced the accumulation of fat in mice fed a </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/low-carb-diet-vs-high-carb-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">high-fat diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22474471"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probiotics</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/probiotics-good-bacteria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">probiotic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplements (including </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/l-rhamnosus/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. rhamnosus</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) improved leptin resistance in obese mice which had been fed a high-fat diet [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28968517/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial of 125 obese adults, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. rhamnosus</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> induced weight loss, reduced fat mass, and reduced circulating leptin [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21505361"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. rhamnosus</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> CGMCC1.3724 improved liver parameters in a small trial of 20 obese children with liver dysfunction noncompliant with lifestyle interventions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24299712"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Berberine, yerba mate, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. rhamnosus</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> probiotics have been found to improve leptin resistance and promote weight loss in some studies.</span></span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garcinia</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In studies on obese animals, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/garcinia-cambogia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garcinia cambogia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> extract enhanced glucose metabolism and leptin signaling [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12727492/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30530230/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378731/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial on 99 obese men, it lowered BMI and belly fat when combined with a weight-loss drug (orlistat) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5061485/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garcinia reduced body weight and fat mass in many clinical trials, ranging from 21 to 100 overweight and obese subjects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11134690"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11092233"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15056124"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18316163"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17639559"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11790414"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a 2011 review of 12 studies, Garcinia extract caused a weight loss of about 2 pounds (0.88 kg) over several weeks [</span><a href="http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobes/2011/509038/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Garcinia cambogia extract may counteract your variant by improving leptin resistance. It supported weight loss in many smaller clinical trials.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Metformin</span></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/uses-benefits-metformin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Metformin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a drug frequently prescribed to people with diabetes or PCOS to help regulate the metabolism. In women with PCOS, metformin has been shown to restore sensitivity to leptin [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5109014/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Metformin decreased food consumption and induced weight loss in a clinical trial on 12 obese women with type 2 diabetes. Metformin may help you lose weight if you have type 2 diabetes and your doctor prescribes you this medication. You may discuss with your doctor if it may be recommended in your case [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9526970"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Metformin is a prescription medication that should never be taken without the express instruction and supervision of a doctor.</span></p>
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204 | content_learn_more_8627272988481145_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your LEPR gene is associated with roughly average rates of leptin resistance and weight gain. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of weight gain, just one gene related to it. Improved sleep and stress management, low carb diets, and some supplements may help; keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsStatus = rs9436303,LEPR,chr1,65430991,A,G,,,19,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs10157275,LEPR,chr1,65500820,C,T,,,31,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1137100,LEPR,chr1,65570758,A,G,T,,15,10,HET
rsStatus = rs1137101,LEPR,chr1,65592830,A,G,T,,17,13,HET
rsStatus = rs11804091,LEPR,chr1,65438196,A,G,,,26,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs11208659,LEPR,chr1,65513597,T,A,C,,25,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1627238,LEPR,chr1,65520396,G,A,T,,37,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1805134,LEPR,chr1,65601426,T,C,,,30,0,Normal
