Effect of long-term changes in diet and exercise on plasma leptin concentrations.

Background: Although it is known that plasma leptin concentrations correlate with the amount of adipose tissue in the body, little information is available on the long-term effects on leptin concentrations of changes in diet and exercise.

Objective: We wanted to examine whether changes in dietary energy sources and exercise-mediated energy expenditure, alone or in combination, affect plasma leptin concentrations.

Design: In a randomized, 2 x 2 factorial trial, 186 men with metabolic syndrome were divided into 4 groups: diet, exercise, a combination of diet and exercise, and control. Data on dietary intake, physical fitness, and demographics were collected and plasma leptin concentrations were measured before and after a 1-y intervention period.

Results: Plasma leptin concentrations, body mass index, and fat mass decreased in association with long-term reductions in food intake as well as increased physical activity. By adjusting for either body mass index or fat mass, we observed a highly significant reduction in plasma leptin concentration after both the diet and the exercise interventions. There was no interaction between the interventions, suggesting a direct and additive effect of changes in diet and physical activity on plasma leptin concentrations.

Conclusion: Long-term changes in lifestyle consisting of decreased intake of dietary fat and increased physical activity reduced plasma leptin concentrations in humans beyond the reduction expected as a result of changes in fat mass.