Leptin

What this test is

Leptin is a hormone made by your body's fat. It tells your brain when you have had enough to eat. Some clinics offer a leptin blood test for weight gain or a big appetite. In adults, this test does not help explain those problems. There is no clear way to use the result to guide your care. Leptin testing does matter in one rare case. Babies and young children can have a genetic condition causing severe obesity from birth. Specialists diagnose that, not a routine leptin test in an adult. If weight or appetite is bothering you, let's talk about diet, sleep, activity, and standard blood tests instead.