Toronto: The satiety hormone leptin is indeed a reality behind the euphoric feeling that gives runners a motivational boost in the middle of their workout, researchers report, says IANS. Leptin is a fat cell-derived hormone that signals to the brain when the body has enough fuel and energy. The study suggests that falling leptin levels send a hunger signal to the brain’s pleasure centre to generate the rewarding effects of running.
“Based on these findings, we think that a fall in leptin levels increases motivation for physical activity as a means to enhance exploration and the pursuit of food,” explained senior study author Stephanie Fulton from University of Montreal.The findings also suggest that people with lower fat-adjusted leptin levels, such as high-performance marathon runners, could potentially be more susceptible to the rewarding effects of running and thus possibly more inclined to exercise.