The appetite-curbing hormone leptin influences brain circuits that tell us when we are hungry and when we are full, according to a study released this week that could help in the fight against obesity.

Understanding how leptin alters brain functions gives an insight into how the hormone should operate normally, said researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

“Ultimately, that may help identify new targets for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders,” said Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA’s Semel Institute.