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Leptin level as a biomarker of uncontrolled eating in obesity and overweight

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) volume 190, pages 155–161 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Uncontrolled eating (UE) showed important relationships with the development of obesity. Homeostatic regulations of feeding and energy balance, as well as hedonic eating, are regulated by leptin.

Aims

The aims of this study were (1) to assess eating behaviors of Algerian adults as measured by the 51-item eating inventory; we also evaluate changes in the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) scores according to the body mass index (BMI) category; (2) to examine the association between the scores of the three TFEQ factors and the BMI values of the participants; and (3) to examine whether leptin concentrations are associated with eating behavior. Our hypothesis is that participants with obesity and high concentrations of leptin might display uncontrolled eating behavior.

Methods

The subjects were 190 participants (60 obese, 60 overweight, and 70 lean subjects). The eating behavior was measured by using the 51-item eating inventory. Serum insulin concentrations were assessed by radioimmunoassay and were used to calculate homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Serum leptin was quantified by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Obese and overweight subjects showed hyperphagic behavior, i.e., uncontrolled eating. The logistic regression analysis showed an effect of leptin, HOMA, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating on BMI. Leptin levels were associated with the uncontrolled eating and influenced by insulin sensitivity.

Conclusions

The uncontrolled eating reflects hyperphagic eating behavior in obese and overweight subjects. Coexistence of uncontrolled eating and high level of leptin demonstrates a state of leptin resistance resulting in an inability to detect satiety. High circulating leptin can be considered a potential biomarker of uncontrolled eating.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Département des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Faculté des Sciences, Université D’Alger, Algiers, Algeria

    Hassiba Benbaibeche

  2. Bioenergetics and Intermediary Metabolism team, Biology and Organisms Physiology laboratory, Biological Sciences Faculty, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16123, Algiers, Algeria

    Hassiba Benbaibeche, Abdenour Bounihi & Elhadj Ahmed Koceir

  3. Department of Second Cycle, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences de l’Aliment et des Industries Agroalimentaires, Algiers, Algeria

    Abdenour Bounihi

Authors
  1. Hassiba Benbaibeche
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  2. Abdenour Bounihi
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  3. Elhadj Ahmed Koceir
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Contributions

HB wrote the MS and collected and analyzed the data. AB analyzed the data. EAK designed research (development of overall research plan and study oversight). All authors have read and approved the final content of the article.

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Correspondence to Hassiba Benbaibeche.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants

The work was conducted in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments involving humans and was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Algerian Ministry of Public Health.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Benbaibeche, H., Bounihi, A. & Koceir, E.A. Leptin level as a biomarker of uncontrolled eating in obesity and overweight. Ir J Med Sci 190, 155–161 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02316-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02316-1

Keywords

  • Insulin resistance
  • Leptin
  • Obesity
  • Overweight
  • Uncontrolled eating