Is Abnormal Leptin Responsible for Obesity in Maltreated Children?

Only in maltreated children, leptin response to increased inflammation and body-mass index becomes blunted, which may account for the relationship between childhood maltreatment and obesity.

Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood is associated with obesity in adulthood (Obes Rev 2014 Aug 14). This association fueled the current study of leptin, a hormone secreted by adipocytes that suppresses appetite via hypothalamic pathways and enhances immune responses, in 172 twins participating in a U.K. cohort study; 81 were maltreated. Maltreatment histories were obtained at ages 5, 7, 10, and 12 years. Assessments at age 12 included leptin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, body-mass index (BMI), depression, and socioeconomic status.

Analyses controlling for circadian leptin rhythms and possible confounders found no direct relationship between maltreatment and leptin. However, abused children, compared with nonabused childr…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Is Abnormal Leptin Responsible for Obesity in Maltreated Children?

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Reviewing Author