Role of leptin hormone as a new prognostic marker in monitoring different therapeutic modalities for obesity

Abstract

Obesity is one of the most common and least understood diseases that a clinician comes into contact with. The medical problems associated with obesity are serious, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, abnormal plasma lipids and lipoproteins concentrations, impaired heat tolerance, osteoarthritis, gout, renal disease and pulmonary diseases.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the status of serum leptin during the period of weight reduction by different therapeutic modalities used for treatment of obesity in order to assess its sensitivity as a marker for weight reduction in different methods.

Full history was taken, the patients were examined clinically to exclude any endocrinal, cardiac, chest or orthopedic diseases and laboratory investigations were done to exclude diabetes mellitus and pregnancy.

Weight, waist to hip ratio and level of serum leptin were measured at the start and after I month.

Thirty female patients were equally divided and treated with either diet and exercise or diet and acupuncture. Their age ranged from 20-40 years and weight ranged from 72.5- 142 kg.