Effect of Normal Level Endocrine Hormones and Hypothalamic Neuropeptides on Obesity in Women of Childbearing Age

Abstract This study aimed to explore the relationship between fluctuations of endocrine hormones and hypothalamic neuropeptides within normal levels and obesity in childbearing-age women. By retrospectively collecting data of 80 such women (37 obese, 43 normal-weight), it was found that within the normal physiological range, the levels of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, follicle-stimulating hormone, neuropeptide Y, and orexin exhibited significant positive correlations with body mass index (P < 0.05), while the levels of estradiol and oxytocin were negatively correlated with body mass index (P < 0.05). The levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, neuropeptide Y, and orexin were positively associated with triglyceride levels (P < 0.05), whereas the pro-opiomelanocortin level demonstrated a negative correlation (r=-0.269, P = 0.016). Neuropeptide Y levels showed a positive correlation with total cholesterol (r = 0.276, P = 0.013), while cortisol levels were negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=-0.283, P = 0.011). Neuropeptide Y and orexin were independent risk factors for obesity (OR = 1.123, 95%CI = 1.023–1.232, P = 0.015; OR = 4.004, 95%CI = 1.174–13.656, P = 0.027), while oxytocin was a protective one (OR = 0.833, 95%CI = 0.697–0.995; P = 0.044). Normal-range fluctuations of these substances are closely linked to obesity in this population.