Abstract
The paper presents an overview of the recent literature on leptin metabolism, relationship between leptin and other hormonal systems, its role in the regulation of appetite and body mass, as well as a comparison of leptin concentrations in patients with various eating disorders including anorexia nervosa. Numerous research findings indicate that there are still no univocal data on the regulation of leptin synthesis and release. Thus, there is still no answer to the question whether low concentrations of leptin in patients with anorexia nervosa result from their chronic undernutrition and oh gene repression, or are due to disturbances in the functioning of negative feedback between peripheral and central mechanisms regulating body mass in humans. The lack of leptin central action (which may be responsible for various patterns of eating disorders) has probably diverse determinants.