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Circulating soluble leptin receptor, leptin, and insulin resistance before and after weight loss in obese children

T Reinehr1, J Kratzsch, W Kiess

  • 1Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents Datteln, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. T.Reinehr@kinderklinik-datteln.de

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|July 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

In obese children, lower soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) and higher leptin levels normalized after weight loss, indicating they are consequences, not causes, of obesity. Leptin levels, unlike sOB-R, are linked to insulin resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Syndrome Research
  • Obesity and Weight Management

Background:

  • Obesity in children is associated with hormonal imbalances, including leptin and its soluble receptor (sOB-R).
  • Insulin resistance is a key metabolic complication often observed in pediatric obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dynamic relationship between leptin, sOB-R, and insulin resistance (Homeostasis Model Assessment - HOMA) in obese children.
  • To determine if changes in leptin and sOB-R precede or follow weight reduction and alterations in insulin sensitivity.

Main Methods:

  • Fasting serum leptin, sOB-R, and HOMA were measured in 36 obese children and 72 lean controls at baseline and after 1 year.
  • Changes in leptin (Deltaleptin), sOB-R (DeltasOB-R), and HOMA (DeltaHOMA) were correlated with changes in BMI (DeltaBMI) and body fat percentage (Delta%BF).
  • Multiple linear regression analyses and comparisons between weight-losing and non-weight-losing obese children were performed.

Main Results:

  • Obese children exhibited higher leptin and lower sOB-R levels compared to lean controls.
  • Deltaleptin significantly correlated with Delta%BF and DeltaHOMA, while DeltasOB-R correlated with Delta%BF but not DeltaHOMA.
  • Substantial weight loss in obese children led to significant increases in sOB-R and decreases in HOMA, while leptin levels normalized.

Conclusions:

  • The observed changes in leptin and sOB-R in obese children appear to be consequences, not causes, of excess weight.
  • Leptin levels are significantly associated with insulin resistance (HOMA) in pediatric obesity, unlike sOB-R.
  • Weight reduction interventions can positively impact sOB-R levels and improve insulin sensitivity in obese children.
Abstract

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