Ramírez-Vélez R, González-Ruíz K, González-Jiménez E, et al. - Since the connection between insulin resistance (IR) and hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) is well established, however, the degree to which the satiety hormone leptin acts as a confounder or mediator in this relationship is unclear, researchers investigated whether the relationship between IR and hepatic steatosis is mediated by leptin in Colombian adolescents with excess adiposity. In total, 122 adolescents (mean age: 13.4 years; 68% of girls) participated in the study. Mediation analysis showed a positive link between HOMA-IR and controlled attenuation parameter, which was attenuated when leptin was included in the model, suggesting that leptin mediates this interaction. The results are clinically important when evaluating youth with excess adiposity and/or suspected NAFLD, to consider leptin levels as a surrogate marker of insulin sensitivity.