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Leptin Feedback Control System

Topic
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Metabolism & Nutrition
  • Homeostasis
Resource Type
  • Videos
  • Animations
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Duration
00:01:01
Favorited By
5 Users
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Description

This animation shows how the hormone leptin helps regulate appetite and weight.

Fat cells produce leptin in amounts proportional to the amount of fat tissue in the body. The animation illustrates how changes in the amount of fat tissue lead to changes in leptin levels and appetite. When a person eats less and their fat tissue decreases, their leptin levels also decrease. This change signals an area of the brain called the hypothalamus, which increases the person’s appetite. When a person eats more and their fat tissue increases, leptin levels increase and reduce appetite.

This animation is a clip from a 2004 Holiday Lecture Series, The Science of Fat. Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different steps in the feedback system.

Details
Key Terms

adipose tissue, appetite, cell signaling, food, hormone, hypothalamus, lipid, obesity, weight

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Version History
Date Published 02.05.04
Materials
Large (MOV) 5 MB
Large (WMV) 5 MB
Small (MOV) 2 MB
Small (WMV) 2 MB
Transcript (PDF) 11 KB

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