Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue into the blood. Adipose tissue stores fat in the body. The hypothalamus in the brain is the target for leptin. The hypothalamus is involved in appetite control. An increased amount of adipose tissue (due to increased food consumption) increases the concentration of leptin in the blood. This causes the inhibition of appetite by the hypothalamus. Leptin has been tested as a treatment for obesity in clinical trials. It has shown to be an effective treatment in rare patients who cannot synthesize leptin (due to gene mutation). However, most obese humans have high concentrations of leptin in their blood and are leptin resistant. Clinical trials have had mixed results.

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