Serum leptin level in healthy sedentary young men after a short-term exercise

The effects of an 8 weeks endurance training program on body characteristics and serum leptin concentration were investigated in sedentary young men. The body mass index, body weight and body fat percentage of healthy, sedentary university students were recorded before and after the exercise program and their relationship to serum leptin level was attained. Body fat percentage after training considerably decreased (p<0.01). However, decreases in body weight and mass index and serum leptin level by the exercise program were insignificant. Correlation analysis did not confirm a relationship between serum leptin concentration and body fat percentage before (r = 0.08) and after (r = 0.10) 8 weeks endurance training program. On the contrary to current knowledge that the body fat content is a major determinant of serum leptin level, our results showed that regular exercise caused body fat percentage reduction, which was not accompanied by reduction in serum leptin concentration. This suggests that other factors may influence or regulate serum leptin level in sport doers.