London: When the brain fails to respond to one of the appetite-regulating hormone, it can lead to weight gain, a new study has found.
There are two key hormones related to our weight, the first being grehlin. Released by the stomach to increase hunger, it also slows the metabolism and decreases the body`s ability to burn fat, the Daily Mail reported.
The second, and the one the study focused on, is leptin. It plays a key role in regulating body weight by signalling to the brain to reduce appetite and burn more calories. As a result, it has a significant link to obesity.
Previous research has found that people who don`t have leptin are more likely to have problems with their weight.
Some people even produce very high levels of it which `overloads` the receptor in the brain that deals with it, impairing the very mechanism that should eliminate excess fat.
Researchers from the University of Michigan in the new study discovered why the brain receptor responsible for processing leptin may not work.
They found that the receptor has two `legs` that swivel until they encounter leptin in the brain.
One possibility is that the receptors of people who are overweight may be lacking these `legs`, so the leptin cannot bind to the brain receptor.
"Since leptin is a master regulator of appetite, understanding why resistance to its effects develops in obesity has been a major obstacle to discovering new drugs for obesity and diabetes," said Alan Saltiel, director of the Life Sciences Institute at the university.
"Developing a clear picture of how leptin can bind to its receptor may be the first step in overcoming leptin resistance," Saltiel was quoted as saying by the paper.
The study was published online in the journal Molecular Cell.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.