Objective: To examine the relationship between fasting plasma leptin and 24
-hour energy expenditure (EE), substrate oxidation, and spontaneous physica
l activity (SPA) in obese subjects before and after a major weight reductio
n compared with normal weight controls. To test fasting plasma leptin, subs
trate oxidations, and SPA as predictive markers of success during a standar
dized weight loss intervention.
Research Methods and Procedures: Twenty-one nondiabetic obese (body mass in
dex: 33.9 to 43.8 kg/m(2)) and 13 lean (body mass index: 20.4 to 24.7 kg/m(
2)) men matched for age and height were included in the study. All obese su
bjects were reexamined after a mean weight loss of 19.2 kg (95% confidence
interval: 15.1-23.4 kg) achieved by 16 weeks of dietary intervention follow
ed by 8 weeks of weight stability. Twenty-four-hour EE and substrate oxidat
ions were measured by whole-body indirect calorimetry. SPA was assessed by
microwave radar.
Results: In lean subjects, leptin adjusted for fat mass (FM) was correlated
to 24-hour EE before (r = -0.56, p<0.05) but not after adjustment for fat
free mass. In obese subjects, leptin correlated inversely with 24-hour and
resting nonprotein respiratory quotient (r = -0.47, p<0.05 and r = -0.50, p
<0.05) both before and after adjustments for energy balance. Baseline plasm
a leptin concentration, adjusted for differences in FM, was inversely relat
ed to the size of weight loss after 8 weeks (r = -0.41, p = 0.07), 16 weeks
(r = -0.51, p<0.05), and 24 weeks (r = -0.50, p < 0.05).
Discussion: The present study suggests that leptin may have a stimulating e
ffect on fat oxidation in obese subjects. A low leptin level for a given FM
was associated with a greater weight loss, suggesting that obese subjects
with greater leptin sensitivities are more successful in reducing weight.