leptin

noun

lep·​tin ˈlep-tən How to pronounce leptin (audio)
: a peptide hormone that is produced by fat cells and plays a role in body weight regulation by acting on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn fat stored in adipose tissue

Examples of leptin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the longer term, the hypothalamus takes cues from an appetite-suppressant called leptin. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 And mice with lots of leptin in their bloodstreams lost weight when given Celastrol, but the compound had no effect on mice with no leptin, or in mice without any leptin receptors. K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2015 This condition, known as leptin resistance, often plays a role in overeating and obesity. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 He was spurred to leave medicine and learn about drug development by the discovery in the mid-1990s of leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite and appeared to be a promising obesity treatment. Megan Molteni and Elaine Chen, STAT, 30 Sep. 2023 Frequent drinking of soda has been linked to Type 2 Diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, increased risk of heart disease, resistance of the hormone leptin (which regulates the number of calories one burns), and, above all, obesity. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023 Its deficiency has been linked to poor metabolic health, which is what causes our bodies to burn calories; altered insulin sensitivity, which determines our blood sugar; and altered levels of the hormone that determines our hunger levels, leptin, Kenney says. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2023 Amgen bought the rights to leptin and, in 1996, began testing it in people. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023 Not getting enough shut-eye also throws hunger and metabolism hormones like leptin and ghrelin out of whack. Melissa Matthews, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leptin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek leptos slender + English -in entry 1

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leptin was in 1995

Dictionary Entries Near leptin

Cite this Entry

“Leptin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leptin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

leptin

noun
lep·​tin ˈlep-tən How to pronounce leptin (audio)
: a peptide hormone that is produced by fat cells and plays a role in body weight regulation by acting on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn fat stored in adipose tissue

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