Ghrelin makes you feel hungry, and leptin makes you feel full.
Ghrelin and leptin work independently and together to regulate your appetite.
An imbalance in these hormones can disrupt appetite regulation and metabolism, leading to overeating and weight gain.
OLEKSANDRA TROIAN / Getty Images
This article reviews ghrelin and leptin’s role in hunger and weight gain.
OLEKSANDRA TROIAN / Getty Images
Role of Ghrelin and Leptin in Hunger
Ghrelin is the hunger hormone.
When empty, your stomach produces ghrelin, causing the hormone’s levels to rise in your bloodstream.
This effect signals to your brain that it’s crucial that you eat, triggering hunger.
Leptin is the satiety (fullness) hormone.
The rise in leptin tells your brain you have enough energy reserves, reducing your desire to eat.
Metabolismis a complex set of chemical processes your body uses to convert food into energy.
Ghrelin and leptin affect energy regulation, which involves burning calories and fat and storing fat for energy.
Too much ghrelin gives you a more robust appetite, causing you to overeat frequently.
Overeating leads to consuming excess calories and storing those extra calories as fat, eventually causing weight gain.
This makes portion control more difficult, causing you to overeat.
A leptin imbalance can also reduce your metabolic rate (how well your body uses fat as fuel).
They may also suggest a consultation with a dietitian or nutritionist.
These types of food cause rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels.
When blood sugar drops quickly, the body makes more ghrelin, making you feel hungry.
Ghrelin stimulates your desire to eat, while leptin signals fullness.
An imbalance in either hormone can lead to overeating and weight gain.
Sometimes, a health condition can lead to an imbalance.
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