First of all, obesity is not created equal. From the Leptin view point, there is obesity with increased and with decreased Leptin levels. The ones with increased Leptin level are associated with very low sensitivity to Leptin and they represent the majority of all cases. However, in 10 to 15% of all obesity, Leptin levels are below normal, for example, it is true for Pima Indians. So, no matter what the reason — low level or low sensitivity — when Leptin does not work properly, obesity occurs.

Weight loss, no matter what the reason, results in decrease of Leptin level : when obese individuals were reduced by 15% of their initial body weight, the serum Leptin level decreased by 50%.

This can be the reason why dramatic weight gain is inevitable after food restriction is over. That’s why many diets fail. It is interesting, by the way, that in anorectics Leptin level quickly increases during re-feeding, much faster than body weight recovery. Some think this might be the reason why successful rehabilitation is so difficult in anorectics: their bodies perceive higher Leptin levels as higher fat content and resist furtherfeeding.

Genetically caused Leptin insufficiency in humans is rare and leads to severe obesity. In the human gnome, the locus for Leptin is situated close to locus for red hairiness, and indeed, two obese red-haired subjects with mutation around the Leptin locus in the gene, have been described. Only this and a very few other cases of the identification of Leptin gene mutation in humans have been described so far.

Does this mean that Leptin therapy is only for those few or can it include the 5-10% of obesity with low circulating Leptin levels? It is not clear. There is hope that for those with a high level but low sensitivity to Leptin (this represents the majority), higher doses of exogenous — injected or infused — Leptin should do.

In 2008, the Nature journal reported about unpublished results of ongoing clinical trials. Under-skin injections of 0.3 mg of Leptin for every kg of body weight for 6 months resulted in 8 subjects’ weight loss that totaled an average of 7.1 kg (1.7 kg in placebo group). Sounds promising?

Not so fast. “Leptin may not be a miracle pill,” says Dr. JoAnn Manson, Harvard Medical School. Actually it is no pill at all (maybe not yet). One of the problems with Leptin is in the delivery method. Given once a day as an injection into the abdomen (intraperitoneal) it is generally ineffective. Subcutaneous permanent infusion as we had the chance to see, is more effective but much less feasible as you can imagine.

The most effective way is injecting Leptin directly into the fluid that circulates inside the brain and spinal cord (intracerebroventricular injection) though one will probably have to have a really good reason to commit to this kind of therapy since it means permanently having a tube injected between the vertebrae and penetrating nervous tissue to reach the internal duct.

Another problem is that over time, adults seem to lose their responsiveness to Leptin.

On the other hand, researchers are in the process of filing for a patent on the new, long-lived form of Leptin.

There is hope in the prospect of gene therapy that is just starting to be investigated in animals. This hopefully will repair mistakes in Leptin production. As to the reduced sensitivity, it is not completely clear yet how this problem can be approached, but Stanford medical school has recently reported that the newly identified protein may overcome Leptin resistance

However, all these theories are in the beginning stages. Who will be eligible? Is weight loss the goal or just the corresponding diseases (co-morbidities) are? One thing is clear. Do not expect your doctor to prescribe you a course of injections soon. Leave the bottle of supplemens called Leptin on the shelves. On the other hand, Leptin is so fashionable that I would not be surprised if supplement manufacturers fail to grasp the opportunity to exploit these circumstances. When you see anything claiming Leptin-like effects — do not believe your eyes! Not quite yet!

What’s so bad about stress? Stress makes us more alert, true. But it also means poor sleep, memory and concentration. It also results in the ’short fuse’ when dealing with friends and family. To help bring the equilibrium of stress and relaxation back to normal, try these tips:

Vitamin C helps support the adrenal glands and reduces the effects of chronic stress. Eat lots of uncooked fruits and vegetables such as kiwis, grapefruit, mangoes, broccoli, cabbage, beans and dark green leafy veggies.

The B vitamins are needed for calm nerves and mental stability. Avoid the insanity of an overwhelming schedule with whole grains like oatmeal and couscous, green vegetables, beans and seeds, fish, eggs, nuts and nutritional yeast. The good news is that these foods also make you feel full for a longer time, which means you’ll be less tempted to waste your bucks on junk.

Magnesium is the most critical mineral for coping with stresss. It’s important in a wide array of chemical reactions in the brain and for the immune system. The last thing you need in your studious life is to get sick, so fill up on watermelon, seafood, dark leafy green veggies, bananas, dates, figs, beans, buckwheat, oats, millet and organ meats. Constant stress depletes this mineral from your body and it’s easy to become deficient on a dorm food diet.

Calcium is a mild tranquilizer for the nervous system. Use stress to your advantage and build your bones and hair at the same time with milk, yogurt, lean meats, eggs, nuts, beans and seeds, seafood and dark leafy greens!

The things which help to set your body off balance include caffeine and alcohol. These also take the glow away from your skin, and drain away your B vitamins and calcium. If you need to stay awake to cram, how about a cold splash of water on the face or a bit of stretching to get the blood circulating instead?

Excess sugar gives you momentary energy, but it robs your body of B vitamins. It also brings mood swings, low blood sugar, and can make you feel restless, tired and depressed.

Too much salt in your Ramen noodles (more than 5 grams a day or 1 teaspon) can cause a sodium/potassium imbalance and stress your kidneys. Potassium is another mineral important to proper brain and nervous system function.

Stress doesn’t have to be a bad thing. A healthy attitude towards problems and avoiding last minute dashes for the assignment deadline will help decrease pimples and increase your academic grade anyhow, so eat up our tips for anti-anxiety!

Certainly that does not mean that all supplements have no effect. The reason the supplements industry exists is that they work. But, without studying what you are purchasing, it’s simple to wind up with supplements that just don’t bring the results you desire. The following simple pointers will help you select the proper supplements that will work for you and help you reach your weight loss goals.

– Make sure to double check the active ingredients.

Many popular supplements are flavored with artificial sweeteners as well as other potentially harmful chemicals. Of course they will help you lose weight, but you do not want to jeopardize your health and fitness in your quest to lose weight. If you have allergies to anything, you must check the label to see if they are included as ingredients in any supplement or weight loss product that you are considering.

– Supplements work better when combined with a proper diet.

You cannot consume 10 McDonalds every day and use pills for weight loss. Eating extreme amounts of bad calories while taking a weight loss supplement will get you nowhere. If you are using weight loss supplements as part of your weight loss regimen, be sure to eat a balanced diet.

– When strategically timed, supplements have the most effect.

The rigorous schedules used by bodybuilders allows them to get the most out of their supplements. It’s not necessary for the average person to be so strict but some research and planning is needed when figuring out a supplement schedule. If protein supplements are part of your weight maintenance regimen, they should be taken after you exercise. If you take weight loss supplements that require you not to eat for a lengthy time period, it is wise to take them before going to bed.

– When combined with other supplements, some supplements are not as effective.

Using a weight loss supplement with bulking shakes or protein powder will lead to a cancellation of its effects. For a weight loss supplement to work to its maximum effect, it must be carefully fixed into your supplement routine. Don’t just start purchasing things haphazardly; devise a plan so that each supplement you take works on its own to provide the desired results and does not interfere with the effects of another supplement that you are taking.

These pointers will assist you in locating weight loss supplements that will actually be effective in your quest to lose weight. Keep in mind that weight loss drugs will not be effective unless you maintain a somewhat healthy lifestyle, and there is no point in spending money on supplements unless you plan to adopt a realistic weight loss regimen. Best wishes, enjoy your lost weight, and be healthy!