Leptin is defined as the human peptide hormone secreted mainly from the brown and white adipose fat cells. Besides that our skeletal muscle, liver, pituitary gland, bone marrow and ovaries also produce leptin. The primary function of leptin is regulating our body weight through stimulation of the hypothalamus for suppressing our appetite and burning the fat stores in adipose tissues simultaneously.
Can an individual suffer from leptin deficiency? Yes; however, this condition is not very common. Leptin deficiency is basically a congenital disorder resulting in severe obesity early in the baby’s life. There are treatments available for leptin deficiency. 
However, the incidence of this condition is extremely uncommon, which makes one’s chances of getting the disorder almost zero. Till date, only two families of Britain and one Turkish family have been detected to be suffering from leptin deficiency.
Can leptin helps in treating obesity effectively? Leptin was discovered almost a decade and half ago. During the first few years after its discovery, medical experts used to expect that leptin with turn out to be an excellent tool for weight loss. A research conducted in the year 1995 revealed that leptin has reduced the appetite and caused weight loss in mice. However, later it was found that obese individuals develop leptin resistance in their brain. This means these people will be absolutely unresponsive towards leptin treatment.
Recently, a study has been carried out for finding out effects of leptin in obese mice; the results of this study have again inspired hopes of using leptin for treating obesity effectively. The researchers involved in this study have discovered that leptin resistance in obese mice results from stress present in another part of their brain. This finding of the study shows that re-sensitizing our brain towards leptin is possible.
