Leptin Blood Test | Leptin Hormone Test

Leptin (Weight Regulation) Test

Measure level of leptin, a hormone that is essential for normal body weight regulation, in your blood. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Preparation:

You must schedule an appointment for sample collection in the morning only (between the hours of 7am and 9am). Fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for 8-12 hours is recommended.

Test type: In Person

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$69.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

About the test

This leptin test measures the level of leptin circulating in your blood. Leptin is a hormone released from adipose tissue (body fat) that helps regulate appetite, metabolism, and long-term weight balance. It acts as a signal to your brain about your body’s energy stores – higher body fat means higher leptin levels, while lower body fat means lower levels.

Unlike short-term hunger hormones that impact meal-to-meal appetite, leptin works over time to help maintain a stable body weight. However, when leptin levels are chronically high (as in obesity), the body can become less responsive to it – a condition called leptin resistance. This is when your brain does not respond to leptin normally, leading to feelings of hunger, even when your body has enough fat stores. Additionally, as you lose weight and leptin levels drop, your body may trigger stronger hunger cues and cravings, leading to increased difficulty in maintaining weight loss. This is a normal biological response but can make weight management challenging.

Although research on leptin is still evolving and testing is not currently routine, measuring your leptin level can provide useful context in a weight management journey. Abnormal levels are associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome and may be considered alongside other lab tests, your BMI, medical history, and overall health profile by your healthcare provider to support a weight management plan.

Please note: This test measures leptin levels only. It cannot diagnose leptin resistance, and there is currently no single blood test that can. It is important to follow up with your healthcare provider. They will review your results along with your medical history, signs and symptoms, and BMI to determine next steps.

No doctor’s visit needed. Buy this leptin blood test online and visit a nearby Quest location.

This leptin hormone test may be right for you if any of the following are true:

You are curious about your leptin level
You are overweight, obese, or have an abnormal BMI
You are always hungry and don’t get the sensation of feeling full
You are experiencing other symptoms of abnormal leptin levels (see Signs & symptoms section below)
You have been diagnosed with a condition associated with abnormal leptin levels (ie, depression, food addiction, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD), Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome, etc.)

Leptin is a hormone released from adipose tissue (body fat) that helps regulate weight, appetite, hunger, and metabolism. It plays a crucial role in energy balance and weight management; the level of leptin in your blood is directly related to how much body fat you have. The less body fat you have, the lower your leptin level. The more body fat you have, the higher your leptin level. Obesity can result in abnormally high levels of leptin, which can lead to a condition called leptin resistance. This is when your brain does not respond to leptin normally which results in feelings of hunger, even when your body has enough fat stores. Over time, this can impact your metabolism and your ability to lose and maintain weight.¹

The following signs and symptoms may indicate an imbalance of leptin levels:

Obesity
Excessive eating
Always hungry or never feeling full
High insulin levels

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. This test requires specimen collection at a Quest Diagnostic location or through Quest Mobile™, a convenient option for in-home sample collection*. Collection not available in AK, AZ, or HI.

*Check your zip code here for service availability, not available in all locations.

You must schedule an appointment for sample collection in the morning only (between the hours of 7am and 9am). Fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for 8-12 hours is recommended.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes 4-6 business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If you have or create a MyQuest^® account, you can review your new results there with your other Quest results. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

In-person
In-home sample collection

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No doctor visit is required for purchase.

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Register your test
& schedule an appointment

Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

Buy a lab test
+ in-home sample collection

No doctor visit required for purchase. If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $79 fee.

Buy now

Register your test
& schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, register your test and Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

FAQs

How are leptin levels related to weight, obesity, and hunger cues?

Leptin is a hormone released from adipose tissue (body fat) that helps regulate weight, appetite, hunger, and metabolism. The level of leptin in your blood is directly related to how much body fat you have. The less body fat you have, the lower your leptin level. The more body fat you have, the higher your leptin level. Obesity can result in abnormally high levels of leptin, which can lead to a condition called leptin resistance. This is when your brain does not respond to leptin normally, leading to feelings of hunger, even when your body has enough fat stores. Over time, this can impact your metabolism and your ability to lose and maintain weight.¹

What is leptin resistance?

Leptin resistance is a condition caused by abnormally high levels of leptin. It prevents the brain from responding normally to leptin. This leads to feeling hungry and decreases metabolism despite having enough fat stores in the body. This can make weight gain worse and is strongly correlated with obesity.¹

This test measures leptin levels only. It cannot diagnose leptin resistance, and there is currently no single blood test that can.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests on questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

Cleveland Clinic. Leptin. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22446-leptin
Quest Diagnostics. Leptin. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/90367/leptin?p=r&q=leptin&cc=PHP
NIH. National Library of Medicine. Physiology, Leptin. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537038/

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

Leptin (Weight Regulation) Test