5 Ways High Leptin Harms Your Health

low carb real food mindset tips weight loss Jul 18, 2025

Leptin is a hormone produced by your fat cells that plays a crucial role in regulating appetite, energy balance, and metabolism. It acts as a messenger, telling your brain when you have enough energy stored and should stop eating. When everything is working well, leptin helps keep your weight and metabolic health in check. However, in people with excess body fat, leptin levels can become chronically high. Over time, the brain may stop responding to leptin’s signals—a state known as leptin resistance. This can set off a cascade of health problems that go beyond just weight gain, affecting your heart, joints, and overall well-being.

Below are five well-researched consequences of having high leptin, each with supporting references.

#1 Increased Hunger and Weight Gain

When leptin levels are high but the brain stops responding (leptin resistance), you may feel hungrier and eat more, even though your body has enough energy stored. This often leads to further weight gain and can make losing weight much harder[1][2].

#2 Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

High leptin is linked to a greater risk of heart disease, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. Studies show that elevated leptin levels are an independent risk factor for future cardiac events, regardless of other factors like cholesterol or blood pressure[1][2].

#3 Joint Destruction (Osteoarthritis and Inflammation)

Leptin promotes inflammation in the joints and encourages cartilage breakdown. People with high leptin are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and experience more rapid joint deterioration, especially in weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips[2].

#4 Raised Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Persistently high leptin can raise blood pressure by activating the sympathetic nervous system and affecting kidney function. This is a significant reason why people with obesity and high leptin are more likely to develop hypertension[1][2].

#5 Increased Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

Leptin acts as a pro-inflammatory hormone. High levels contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation, which is linked to insulin resistance, higher blood sugar, and a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome[1][2].

How Can You Find Out if You Have High Leptin?

Leptin can be measured with a simple blood test, usually after fasting. This test isn’t part of routine check-ups but may be ordered if there are concerns about metabolic health, unexplained weight gain, or symptoms of leptin resistance. People with obesity, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome are more likely to have high leptin levels. If you’re interested in your leptin status, speak with your doctor about testing[1].

Lifestyle Ways to Reduce Leptin and Improve Sensitivity

While there’s no quick fix for leptin resistance, several lifestyle changes can help lower leptin levels and restore your body’s sensitivity to this important hormone:

Choose a Low Carb Nutrition Approach: Reducing your carbohydrate intake—especially refined carbs and sugars—can help lower triglycerides and improve leptin sensitivity. Studies show that low carb diets are linked to greater reductions in leptin and inflammation compared to low fat diets[3][4].
Prioritise Protein and Fibre: Eating enough protein (especially at breakfast) and including plenty of soluble fibre from vegetables can help regulate appetite and support healthy leptin levels[1][5][6].
Exercise Regularly: Both moderate and high-intensity exercise have been shown to lower leptin levels and improve leptin sensitivity, independent of weight loss[1][7].
Optimise Sleep: Short sleep duration is associated with higher leptin levels and increased risk of metabolic issues. Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night to support hormone balance[1][8].
Avoid Processed Foods: Highly processed foods and those high in added sugars and unhealthy fats can worsen leptin resistance and inflammation. Focus onreal foods as much as possible[1][6].
Consider Time-Restricted Eating: Limiting late-night eating and allowing longer gaps between meals (such as overnight fasting) may help reset leptin signalling and reduce inflammation[6].
Balance Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats: Including more omega-3-rich foods (like oily fish, flaxseed, and walnuts) and reducing processed seed oils may help regulate inflammation and support healthy leptin function[6].

High leptin is more than just a marker of excess body fat—it’s a signal that your body’s energy regulation system is under strain. Left unchecked, high leptin and leptin resistance can drive hunger, weight gain, inflammation, joint damage, and increase your risk of serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The good news is that lifestyle changes—focusing on low carb real food nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep can help restore leptin sensitivity and support your long-term metabolic health.

If you’re concerned about your leptin levels or metabolic wellbeing, talk with your doctor or book an appointment at our metabolic clinic here and find out about testing and sustainable lifestyle strategies.

References:

With love and great health

Dr Lucy and Dr Mary XX

P.S. Thinking about weight loss medications but not sure where to start?

We get it—you might have heard mixed messages, or feel uncertain about side effects, doses, or how to eventually come off them. If you’d like clear, unbiased medical information, join our FREE masterclass:
Weight Loss Medication – What You Need to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask)

🗓️ Monday, 21 July at 7:30 PM AEST
🗓️ Tuesday, 22 July at 12:00 NOON AEST

👉 Register here

You’ve got this—one small, kind, science-backed step at a time.

Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy are the founders of Real Life Medicine. They help women who have been on every diet under the sun, optimise their health and achieve long lasting weight loss without feeling miserable or deprived.

They do this with their 3 step framework that

Improves metabolism
Develops mindset skills
Provides tools to implement it easily into busy lives

With this comes increased energy, vitality and confidence.

You can avoid chronic disease and stop living life on the sidelines!