The Influence of Leptin Resistance on the Development of Childhood Obesity

The rising global prevalence of obesity presents a diminished quality of life and life expectancy. Though a myriad of factors contributes to obesity, one of the leading factors is excessive adipose tissue accumulation increases the body’s production of the leptin satiety hormone resulting in leptin resistance. Leptin resistance results in increased vulnerability to obesity through improper regulation of insulin, a decline in metabolic functions, and decreased sex hormone levels. Leptin resistance is treated with natural treatments, leptin replacement therapy, testosterone replacement therapy, and insulin-sensitizing drugs, although all are met with limited results. Since leptin vastly affects sex hormone levels, leptin resistance has an adverse effect on obese children and adolescents. In this review, we examine the causes of leptin resistance, treatments for leptin resistance, and the effect of leptin resistance on childhood development.