Dr. Isaacs' New Book Set for Publication this December
-- Unlocking the Secrets of Fat Cell Hormones

The discovery of leptin in 1994 was one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of obesity research. The name leptin comes from the Greek, leptos which means thin. Leptin is a hormone made by fat cells that tells your body to stop eating. The fat cells in your body work together to behave like a gland, just like the adrenal gland, thyroid gland or pituitary gland. Leptin works in your brain to control your appetite and metabolism. Leptin has led to the understanding that fat cells or adipocytes are dynamic cells that produce hormones responsible for body weight, energy balance, metabolism, appetite and cravings.

In the past, scientists viewed fat as simply tissue that stores excess calories in the body. When it came to obesity research, fat was thought of as an innocent bystander. Leptin has shattered our earlier perceptions of the fat cell. Scientists now understand that fat is much more than just an inert storage depot. Fat is a dynamic endocrine machine that is the critical regulator of your appetite, metabolism and body weight.

Fat makes leptin. Leptin is the chemical messenger that allows your fat cells to communicate with your brain. Leptin tells the brain how much fat is in your body. As a person gains weight, leptin levels increase, extinguishing appetite and accelerating metabolism. Or that's how it's supposed to work. It turns out that leptin is pretty good at telling the brain that the body has enough fat, but leptin isn't as good at telling the brain that the body has too much fat. This is because the as you gain weight, you develop leptin resistance . That's when the brain is blind to effects of leptin. Metabolism slows and you feel hungry even if you are overweight. If you want to lose weight and keep it off permanently, leptin must be balanced. This means your fat cells must be able to make enough leptin and your brain must be able to respond to leptin appropriately.

Since 1994, our knowledge of leptin has grown remarkably. In the first three years after its discovery, more than 800 scientific papers on leptin were published. Every obesity researcher seemed to be starting a "leptin lab." Global scientific meetings are held for researchers to share knowledge and ideas about leptin. Medical textbooks have been rewritten.

So it turns out that fat is not as boring as we once thought. The discovery of leptin has confirmed what most physicians have suspected all along: obesity is a hormonal disorder. Informative without being alarmist, this guide to leptin and other fat cell hormones offers the latest and broadest advice on a new aspect of the endocrine system. Readers learn to recognize and respond to fat cell hormone imbalances. Complex topics such as the background and basic endocrinology of fat cell hormones, how to identify symptoms of leptin deficiency or resistance, and ways to improve the action of leptin in the body are clearly explained. The newest medical treatment options - including clinical trials - are explained. Clear and concise recommendations are made for nutrition, physical activity as well as vitamins and supplements. This book both comforts and educates readers on improving their appetite, energy level, body weight and metabolism through the hormones made by fat cells. The leptin diet is a unique and easy to follow weight loss program that allows weight loss by optimizing leptin and other fat cell hormones. Material is presented in a reader-friendly way.

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