Neurotic Enzyme that regulates weight?

"According to the 'Wall Street Journal', researchers at Harvard have found an enzyme in the brain that regulates obesity. They said if it wasn't for our brains, we would all be thin. That's why supermodels are so skinny. No brain, no gain." -Jay Leno

The first part is true. The second part, a whole load of guano.

Well, in this blog entry I will prove that indeed there is an enzyme in the brain regulating obesity. However, I do not belief that Harvard researchers said in their paper that enzymatic regulation of weight results in supermodels being skinny. It is an apparent bias and is utter defamation to view supermodels in that light.

Scientists have found an enzyme in the hypothalamus of the brain called AMP-Kinase (AMPK) which complements leptin (a hormone that is produced by fat cells). Leptin inhibits the production of AMP-Kinase. Thus we can say that the more adipose tissues a person has, the more leptin produced which results in lower levels of AMP-Kinase. This will allow the body to cut down on the production of fatty acids and detrimental substances leading to obesity. The levels of AMP-Kinase are directly proportionate to the obesity of the human. As can be seen from the chart below, an increase in the amount of AMP-Kinase would bring about fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, fatty acid synthesis, lipolysis and many other detrimental effects to the body which may in turn cause atherosclerosis or angina.

However, it is important to note that obesity means that the AMP-Kinase is immune to the effect of leptin. Thus, regardless of the amount of leptin produced, AMP-Kinase will still be produced and thus, obesity and weight gain sets in. AMP-Kinase immunity to leptin may be genetic in nature, thus some people are “born fat”.

Regarding supermodels, the amount of gray matter, or rather intelligence of their brain is not in any way linked to the production of AMP-Kinase thus completely refuting Jay Leno’s groundless claim. But a conclusion that supermodels’ AMP-Kinase are not leptin resistant can be drawn.