Changes of Serum Leptin Levels in Healthy Women with Different Grades of Obesity and its Correlation with Hormonal and Anthropometric Factors

Obesity is associated with a number of endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. Leptin is a peptide that is strongly correlated with adiposity and is a potential determinant of obesity and its complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin levels with anthropometric and hormonal factors in healthy women with different grades of obesity. This cross- sectional study enrolled 38 women with BMI ranging between 18.9-24.9, as the normal weight group, 35 women with BMI 24.9-29.9, as overweight, 37 women with 29.9-34.9, as obese grade I and 34 women with BMI 34.9-39.9, as obese grade II. Body Mass Index was defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin, cortisol and Leptin were measured by commercially available enzyme immunoassay kits. There was a dramatic, continuous increase in serum leptin concentration when the degree of obesity was increased and concordance was seen with serum insulin concentrations. There was a direct and significant correlation between serum leptin concentration and BMI in obese subjects(r= 0.736, P< 0.001). We found significant correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations and cortisol (r= 0.237, P< 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between leptin and insulin in grade 2 obese subjects(r= - 0.566, p< 0.05). and a significant positive correlation between cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in grade 2 obese subjects (r=0.610, P<0.001). Serum leptin levels continuously rose with increasing degrees of obesity and serum leptin concentrations were strongly correlated with BMI. Concentrations of insulin and cortisol increase with increasing serum leptin levels.