 |
| Scientists have made one step closer to a pill to stop obesity |
A PILL to stop obesity could soon be on the cards after scientists discovered two genes that make people fat.
Researchers have made exciting steps to finding a weight loss pill after discovering what keeps slender people thin even when they eat a junk food diet.
The holy-grail of discoveries could help reduce obesity-related diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
 |
| Researchers found a fat burning gene that could lead to the ultimate slimming pill |
The research, conducted on mice, discovered the rodents stayed lean - even after gorging - because they had higher concentrations of a particular gene called Ucp1.
Ucp1 actually helps to burn off excess pounds by converting the fat into heat.
The fat mice had higher concentrations of two other 'obesity genes', Cnot7 and Tob.
Those obesity genes damage the body’s good brown fat - the type of fat that produces lots of heat by burning calories, and helps to keep weight off.
 |
| The discovery could lead to the holy grail of health discoveries |
Meanwhile it keeps the body's white fat, which lingers around the hips.
Scientists believe if the power of brown fat can be harnessed, white fat's days could be numbered.
Dr Takahashi Akinori, of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, said: "We wish to inhibit the pathway that suppresses the conversion of fat into heat.
"Being able to enhance fat burning could have clinical applications, such as the production of anti-obesity drugs.”
 |
| The lead author plans to further his research |
The researchers are now planning to take the study to another level, with the ultimate aim of developing medications that act on Cno7 and Tob, meaning a slimming pill could soon be on the cards.
The groundbreaking research was published in the journal Cell Reports.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus