You've tried everything. Eaten less, exercised more, counted calories. But the weight won't budge. What if the problem was never your lack of willpower — but a fuel switch that got stuck?
Topic
Leptin
The Satiety Hormone
Leptin is your body's 'I'm full' hormone—produced by fat cells, it signals to your brain that you have enough stored energy and can stop eating. In theory, more body fat should mean more leptin and less hunger. But with obesity and insulin resistance, the brain often becomes resistant to leptin's signal, a condition called leptin resistance. You produce plenty of leptin, but your brain doesn't hear it, so you stay hungry despite having excess stored energy. High insulin levels, which come from eating too many carbohydrates too often, block leptin signaling in the brain. This helps explain why people with insulin resistance feel constantly hungry and struggle to lose weight—their satiety system is broken. Reducing carbohydrates and insulin levels can help restore leptin sensitivity.