How GLP-1 RAs Like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Revive the Importance of Leptin Therapy in Obesity and Diabetes Treatment
I have been studying metabolic hormones for years, and one that has always intrigued me is leptin. It’s garnered significant attention in the health research community, especially regarding weight loss, obesity, and metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes.
For those unfamiliar, leptin is a hormone that signals the brain when we’re full, helping regulate appetite and energy use. However, in people with obesity, the brain stops responding to leptin, leading to constant hunger and difficulty losing weight — a condition known as leptin resistance.
I recently came across an educational and comprehensive article written by Dr Mehmet Yildiz (Main) titled Leptin Therapy Historically Failed to Manage Obesity, Yet Research Into GLP1-RAs Brings New Hope.
This insightful article discusses the connection between leptin therapy and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) for treating obesity and diabetes. Here’s a simple summary of the key points:
The author mentioned that leptin therapy was once thought to be the solution to obesity, but it failed because most people with obesity have high levels of leptin but are resistant to its effects.
This is where GLP1-RAs, a type of medication that helps regulate blood sugar and promote weight loss, come in. Recent research suggests that GLP1-RAs might also help improve the brain’s sensitivity to leptin, especially when leptin levels are lowered.
For example, studies in mice showed that using GLP1-RAs along with treatments that reduce leptin levels led to significant weight loss and better glucose control. Researchers found that lowering leptin made certain brain neurons more sensitive to the hormone, which could be a promising way to treat obesity and insulin resistance.
In short, I want to create awareness that while leptin therapy alone hasn’t been very successful, combining it with GLP1-RAs and other treatments that reduce leptin levels shows promise in addressing obesity and related conditions like diabetes.
If you want to learn more about GLP1-RAs, you may check out his another well-researched, well-crafted, and well-article article titled GLP1-RAs: After Diabetes, Tirzepatide & Semaglutide Give Hope for Osteoarthritis & Dementia Patients.
In this story, he highlighted two widely used glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, Tirzepatide and Semaglutide, to make his points. These drugs have the potential to affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems positively.
Their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties make them promising candidates for repurposing in these areas. To better understand their potential, he explained the functions and mechanisms of glucagon-like peptide-1 across the body, including its impact on the brain.
GLP-1 is thought to modulate the activity of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate, which are involved in mood regulation, reward processing, and cognitive function.
In general, GLP-1 plays a multifaceted role in glucose regulation, appetite control, and neurological function, making it a valuable target for treating conditions like type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, obesity, inflammatory conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases.
If you’re struggling to control your appetite, manage your weight, or deal with metabolic conditions like prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, it might be worth having an informed conversation with your family doctor about glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) such as Tirzepatide or Semaglutide, along with other medications that GPs or specialists can prescribe.
While medication may be necessary in some cases under medical supervision, it’s essential to prioritize healthy lifestyle choices as the first line of defense for sustainable, long-term wellness management.
You may check this insightful and inspiring case study titled Fixing Three Health Conditions Accelerated Rosalia’s Fat Loss. I used to feel like Rosalia once upon time.And this case study titled Here’s How a Mature-Age Couple Reversed Diabetes and Trimmed Their Bodies with Lifestyle Habits is very inspiring for elderly like me.
From the metabolic health research of Dr Yildiz, I also liked obesity management,. especially abdominal obesity in a prediabetic condition through supervised long-term fasting for metabolically broken people. Like me, he believes that type II diabetes is reversible.
Thanks for reading. I wish you a joyful and long life. Please feel free to leave a comment sharing your thoughts and experiences on this important health topic.
My stories, of course, never include health or professional advice.
I am a retired healthcare scientist in his mid-70s, and I have several grandkids who keep me going and inspire me to write on this platform. I am also the chief editor of the Health and Science publication on Medium.com. As a giveback activity, I volunteered as an editor for Illumination publications, supporting many new writers. I will be happy to read, publish, and promote your stories. You may connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Quora, where I share stories I read. You may subscribe to my account to get my stories in your inbox when I post. You can also find my distilled content on Subtack: Health Science Research By Dr Mike Broadly.
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Health Science Research By Dr Mike Broadly. This story was originally published here.
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