How to Stimulate a Leptin Response in Your Body

Leptin is a protein that comes from your stored fat, according to Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz, authors of "YOU: On A Diet." Leptin works by telling your body when you've had enough food, which can help reduce the chance of overeating. In normal-functioning bodies, leptin will shut off your hunger at an appropriate time, but in those who are obese, the body can override the leptin's message of being full, which causes continuous eating (leptin resistance). In order to combat this problem, walking and muscle-building exercises can help stimulate your leptin response, according to Roizen and Oz. You can also stimulate leptin by losing weight through healthy dieting.

Instructions

• 1

  Walk everyday. A 30-minute walk everyday can burn fat cells, which causes leptin to secrete from them, according to Dr. Oz.

• 2

  Lift weights regularly. Muscle-building exercises help you to burn off calories and fat, which causes your body to crave food. This causes your cells to become sensitive to leptin messages, which reduces the amount of food you consume.

• 3

  Eat more complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are healthy for you as they break down slowly, which allows you to feel full for longer periods of time. They can be found in whole-wheat bread, beans, oat bran and in vegetables such as potatoes.

• 4

  Add more non-starchy vegetables to your diet. Non-starchy vegetables are high in nutrients and low in calories, which means you'll get your daily value of vitamins without loading up on calories. Non-starchy vegetables include tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, okra, beets, carrots and peppers.