Case studies of patients with anorexia nervosa revealed psychological improvements upon treatment with recombinant human leptin, including an alleviation of the entrapment in this eating disorder. Hypoleptinaemia induced by loss of adipose tissue mass might trigger psychological changes observed in starvation. Accordingly, leptin analogues might prove beneficial for treatment of anorexia nervosa.
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J.H. and J.A. declare that they are named as inventors in two patent applications of the University of Duisburg-Essen on the use of leptin analogues for the treatment of anorexia nervosa and depression. J.H. received speaker’s honoraria from Amryt Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk. A.H. declares no competing interests.
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Nature Reviews Endocrinology thanks Hubertus Himmerich and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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Hebebrand, J., Hinney, A. & Antel, J. Could leptin substitution therapy potentially terminate entrapment in anorexia nervosa?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 19, 435–436 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00863-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00863-y
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