Leptin levels do not change acutely with food administration in normal or obese subjects, but are negatively correlated with pituitary‐adrenal activity

Abstract

Leptin is a robust indicator of BMI and insulin levels, both basal and stimulated, but does not change acutely following food. Fasting causes a proportionately greater decline in leptin levels in lean subjects than in obese subjects. Circulating leptin is inversely correlated with the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis: whether this is a direct influence of leptin on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal activity, or whether both are indirect indicators of body fat stores, requires further investigation.