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Leptin Levels in Children

Leptin is a hormone produced by the body. Named for the Greek word meaning thin, it plays a role in balancing out energy expense. According to thefactsaboutfitness.com, its main function is to relay to your brain how much fat is in your body.

  1. Pre-Pubescent Boys

    • Boys between the ages of 5 and 15, according to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, have lower levels of leptin than girls.

    Pre-Pubescent Girls

    • In girls between the ages of 5 and 15, the leptin levels are directly proportionate to the level of fat in their bodies, according to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology.

    Level Fluctuation

    • Leptin levels are controlled by the amount of fat in the body. More fat equals more leptin.

    Research

    • A research team, led my Dr. Michael Rosenbaum, found that another role of leptin is to attempt to retain fat. Lower levels of leptin result in your body fighting harder to keep fat than it will to gain it, explaining why it is harder to lose weight than it is to gain it, according to factsaboutfitness.com.

    Fun Fact

    • According to factsaboutfitness.com, researchers have nicknamed leptin the anti-obesity hormone, due to its innate ability to tell the brain when it's time to consume energy, resulting in fat burning.

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