Which marker is used as an obesity marker in the material provided?

• A. Adiponectin
• B. Leptin
• C. Ghrelin
• D. Resistin

Answer: (A)

Adipose tissue emits signaling proteins called adipokines, and adiponectin is a key one because its levels fall as fat mass increases. This inverse relationship means low adiponectin accompanies obesity and related metabolic disturbances, making it a useful indicator of obesity-related metabolic health. Leptin rises with more fat, but obesity often involves leptin resistance, so it doesn’t reliably reflect obesity status on its own. Ghrelin is mainly a hunger signal from the stomach and isn’t used as an obesity marker. Resistin’s association with obesity and insulin resistance is variable in humans, so it’s not a standard obesity marker.