Fat-Metabolism Hormone Analysis
A blood sample measures leptin, adiponectin and the ratio between them (the A/L ratio) at the same time. It reflects what your fat tissue is actually doing as an endocrine organ far better than body weight or body fat percentage alone, making it the key tool for identifying leptin resistance and assessing metabolic health. Testing is performed by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
Worth testing if any of these apply:
- Frequent cravings, especially for sweets and starches
- Weight keeps coming back despite persistent dieting
- Higher waist circumference and visceral fat while health check glucose still looks normal
- Long-term sleep deprivation and stress, with metabolism feeling increasingly sluggish
- Known fatty liver, insulin resistance or a tendency toward metabolic syndrome
What this test is for
A blood sample measures leptin, adiponectin and the ratio between them (the A/L ratio) at the same time. It reflects what your fat tissue is actually doing as an endocrine organ far better than body weight or body fat percentage alone, making it the key tool for identifying leptin resistance and assessing metabolic health. Testing is performed by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
Fat isn't just a warehouse for storing calories — it is an endocrine organ that secretes hormones. Leptin regulates appetite, carries the "you've eaten enough" signal to the brain and takes part in regulating energy metabolism. Adiponectin raises insulin sensitivity, promotes fat burning and works against inflammation. One handles the brakes, the other handles repair — different jobs, equally important.
Most people assume weight gain means too little leptin, but the reality is usually the opposite: in people carrying more body fat, leptin tends to run high rather than low, because the brain's sensitivity to the signal has dropped. That is leptin resistance. When the signal can't get through, the body keeps generating hunger, and cravings for sweets and starches become especially strong. Adiponectin moves the other way, falling as body fat rises.
So what matters is not any single value but the adiponectin/leptin ratio: it reflects the degree of leptin resistance, the inflammatory state of visceral fat and the tendency toward insulin resistance all at once — and it frequently shifts before fasting glucose or HbA1c ever turn abnormal.
Test items
3 biomarkers · 3 groups
Category
Leptin
Adiponectin
A/L ratio (adiponectin / leptin)
Four steps to start your test
Order online, book a location
Choose your test and pick a blood-draw time and location that suits you as you order.
A 10-minute blood draw
When the time comes you just show up. A professional takes your sample — we handle the rest.
Accredited laboratory analysis
Samples are processed by accredited testing institutions and interpreted to standard protocols.
Digital report
Once complete, your report is uploaded to your personal account with values and reference ranges clearly marked.
Pair it with Body Decode for the full picture
This test isn't part of the core package. Build a whole-body baseline with Body Decode, then add this test on top for fuller health context
| Body Decode + this add-on | This test on its own | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of biomarkers | 68 + this test's 3 | This test's 3 only |
| Biomarkers on this page | ||
| Cross-system interpretation | ||
| Full-system integrated report | ||
| Advisor report walkthrough | ||
| Personalized action plan | ||
| 120-day check-ins |
Frequently asked questions
My weight is normal — surely I don't need this?
Weight and body fat percentage measure quantity; this test measures signalling. People whose weight sits in the normal range but who carry higher visceral fat, or live with sustained stress and insufficient sleep, can still show leptin resistance and low adiponectin. It's why some people don't look heavy while their metabolic markers have already begun to slip.
A normal weight doesn't mean normal metabolic signalling — they aren't measuring the same thing.
How is this different from a body composition scale?
A body composition scale measures the proportions of your body — structural information. Leptin and adiponectin measure what your fat tissue is secreting — functional information. The two complement each other: the scale tells you how much fat you have, this test tells you what metabolic and inflammatory state that fat is currently in.
One shows how much fat there is; the other shows what the fat is doing.
I keep regaining weight — could this be related?
Possibly. When leptin resistance is present, the brain reads energy as insufficient even though fat stores are ample, so appetite rises and resting metabolism falls, and the body leans toward holding on to calories. That is part of the physiological background to losing weight through willpower and regaining it quickly. Seeing the signalling clearly first is what stops a weight plan from constantly fighting your body.
Regaining weight is often not a willpower problem — it's a signal the brain never heard.
Isn't high leptin a good thing — better satiety?
Intuitively yes, but in practice the opposite. High leptin alongside persisting symptoms usually means the receiving end has lost sensitivity — like turning the volume up while the ears can no longer make out the sound. So leptin alone tells you little; it has to be read together with adiponectin and the A/L ratio to know whether the problem is signal volume or signal reception.
A high value doesn't mean a strong effect — what matters is whether the signal is still being heard.
Can these numbers be improved?
Yes. Unlike genes, leptin and adiponectin shift with lifestyle: reducing refined sugar and ultra-processed foods, getting sufficient and regular sleep, exercising consistently (resistance training in particular), lowering chronic inflammation and managing stress are all directions the literature associates with these markers. With a baseline in hand, retesting later is what shows whether your adjustments actually worked.
These markers move with lifestyle — which is exactly what makes acting on the results worthwhile.
Do I need to fast, and how long until I get my report?
We recommend fasting for the draw, and avoiding a late night or heavy drinking beforehand so short-term fluctuation doesn't distort the reading. Once you've ordered, the system sends you the full preparation list via LINE. Your report is pushed to your account once complete.
Sampling conditions affect the values — following the reminders is what makes the data comparable.