Leptin and Obesity
…How does a baby get a surge of leptin? Interestingly, leptin is highly concentrated in the first milk colostrum. After 24 hours leptin levels in breast milk are significantly reduced. Thus, based on this new information, a baby failing to get the first milk colostrum could be programmed to make the wrong subconscious brain connections regarding food intake. This would predispose the baby to later life obesity. Such a problem may manifest earlier in life or may not manifest until child bearing years.
…If a baby is preprogrammed to be leptin resistant, then even though the baby gets the first milk, the leptin may not get into the brain. This would occur if one or both parents were overweight at the time of conception. This means that overweight parents are passing along leptin resistance to an unborn child, i.e., a genetic predisposition to obesity.
Reading the article fully, it rather changes one’s view toward the flabs, isn’t? I’ve just watched Discovery Channel’s Understanding Fat last night and it kind of shifted my perspective. It’s not about finding the excuse to be fat. But, rather, it is about having a healthier and more positive views about ourselves and our bodies. As was said in the program, we have waged war against our own bodies. That sounds pathetic, isn’t?
