ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

What role does leptin play in the body?

1. stimulating hunger

2. regulating energy expenditure

3. controlling the metabolic rate

4. influencing fat storage

The correct answer is: stimulating hunger

Leptin is a hormone primarily produced by adipose (fat) tissue and plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance in the body. Its primary function is to signal the brain about the body's fat stores and energy needs. When fat stores are sufficient or increased, leptin levels rise, which helps to reduce appetite and stimulate energy expenditure, thereby contributing to weight management. The correct context here revolves around leptin's role in influencing appetite regulation rather than stimulating hunger. While it does promote a sense of satiety and can affect pathways that suppress hunger, it does not stimulate hunger directly; instead, it works to signal the body to reduce food intake when energy reserves are plentiful. Understanding leptin's role is essential because it helps explain how energy homeostasis is maintained, particularly in terms of energy expenditure and overall weight regulation. The other elements, such as the regulation of energy expenditure and controlling metabolic rate, are also influenced by leptin, but they do not encapsulate its primary role as effectively as appetite modulation does. Thus, the emphasis on hunger signaling is not entirely accurate for leptin's function.