Short Term Effects of Leptin Withdrawal or Initiation in Lipodystrophy Independent of Energy Intake

Detailed Summary

Background: \- Lipodystrophy is a condition where people do not have enough fat in the body. People with lipodystrophy can have problems such as diabetes or an enlarged liver. Researchers are looking at how leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells, can help people with these problems. Leptin helps control appetite and how the body stores food. Taking leptin can help people with lipodystrophy eat less food, which may help treat diabetes and other problems. To better understand how leptin works, researchers want to do an inpatient study on leptin treatment in people with lipodystrophy. Objectives: \- To study how leptin treatment affects lipodystrophy. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 14 and 70 years of age who have lipodystrophy. Design: * All participants will have a 19-day stay at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. One group of participants will have tests for 5 days before starting to take leptin. They will then take leptin for 2 weeks, and have more tests. The other group of participants will have tests for 5 days while taking leptin. They will then take stop taking leptin for 2 weeks, and have more tests, and then they will start taking leptin again. * Participants will have regular blood and urine tests during the visit. Some of the blood tests will look at insulin levels. Some will look at how the body metabolizes sugar and fat. Other tests will check hormone levels, especially of reproductive hormones. * During the visit, participants will spend 3 separate days in a metabolic chamber, a special room that measures how many calories the body uses. Urine samples will be collected during these stays. * Participants will also have several body imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging and a body composition scan. * Physical activity will be tested with an exercise bicycle and an electronic activity monitor. * Participants will be asked questions about hunger and comfort levels throughout the stay.

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