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In another report, researchers presented the results of a trial of injecting a new recombinant hormone, leptin, on weight loss by obese patients. Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose (fat) cells, which in some genetically obese mice, causes a rapid loss of body fat. Leptin is thought to be a part of the appetite control system in both animals and humans. Obese humans, however, do not generally have low levels of leptin.

Working on the theory that additional leptin might still be helpful in weight loss programs, the researchers provided leptin to 54 lean and 73 obese men and women at several dose levels. The obese subjects were also prescribed a weight-loss diet that reduced their daily energy intake by 500 calories.

After four weeks, the obese persons on the highest doses of leptin did lose significantly more weight than those on a placebo (inactive) substance. When the obese people were continued on the weight-loss diet and injections for an additional 20 weeks, those on the highest dose of leptin lost on average 7.1 kilograms (15.6 pounds), while those taking the inactive injections lost 1.3 kilograms (2.9 pounds). It is important to note, however, that the dropout rate was high during the latter part of the study, so that only 12 obese people completed the full 24 weeks on leptin. The researchers noted that, in line with their initial theory, ” … some patients … respond to exogenous [not produced by their bodies] leptin administration.”

In an accompanying editorial, Doctors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscored the serious nature of the increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States. They suggest that public health and clinical strategies to combat the obesity epidemic should include weight maintenance for adults, weight loss for the obese and increased physical activity for all Americans.

Koplan and Dietz note that “[m]odest weight losses of 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight improve … ” a number of the illnesses associated with obesity in adults. Further, they state that “The time has come to develop a national comprehensive obesity prevention strategy that incorporates educational, behavioral, and environmental components.”