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French scientists say they have found a drug that tricks the body into burning off fat even when on a high-fat diet.
The University of Louis Pasteur team found the drug protected mice against weight gain and insulin resistance.
The drug SRT1720 - a chemical cousin of red wine extract resveratrol - targets the protein SIRT1, which is thought to combat ageing, Cell Metabolism reports.
The French team from the University Louis Pasteur became interested in the SIRT1 protein after earlier studies showing resveratrol countered some effects of a high-calorie diet via SIRT1.
But tests in mice suggested gallons of wine would be necessary for humans to stand a chance of getting the same benefits.
The scientists turned their attention to creating a more potent drug that would specifically target SIRT1.
They found that a low dose of SRT1720 partially protected mice from gaining weight on a high-fat diet after 10 weeks of treatment.
The drug worked by shifting the metabolism to a fat-burning mode that normally takes over only when energy levels are low.
At higher doses, the drug completely prevented weight gain. It also improved the rodents' blood sugar tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which are important for warding off diabetes.
The mice showed no sign of side effects. However, the scientists say further studies are needed to test the drug's safety and efficacy before it could be used in humans.
Other scientists are investigating SIRT1 activators similar to SRT1720 developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals.
Professor Stephen Bloom, who has been researching obesity at Imperial College London, said: "This sounds interesting but is terribly early.
"We do need new treatments for obesity, particularly as there are 1,000 deaths a week in the UK from obesity."
Prof Ian Broom, of the Centre for Obesity Research and Epidemiology at The Robert Gordon University, said: "Research in this area is to be welcomed as an additional route of combating the obesity epidemic and associated comorbid disease."
Originally posted by baseball101
reply to post by StefanO
ya as described by the poster above you there are other factors that influence the people's eating habits therefore resulting in the gaining of weight...
Cure for Obesity Discovered!!
i know that's the interesting thing people can still have a high-fat diet yet they won't gain weight.
Originally posted by baseball101
reply to post by calihan123
i am not obese, but you must also think of the people who are incapable of doing any physical exercise i.e. handicap etc.
The drug worked by shifting the metabolism to a fat-burning mode that normally takes over only when energy levels are low. At higher doses, the drug completely prevented weight gain. It also improved blood sugar tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which are important for warding off diabetes.
Originally posted by Blaine91555
The hatred of fat people is approaching the levels of hatred exhibited by the KKK or the Nazi's. Every time there is a thread about weight, the fat haters all come running to spew their hatred and bigotry. A generation ago you would have been racists. Now you are fat haters. Nothing changes does it? People just have to have somebody to hate. How sad for humanity.
When I was young the Retarded or Mongoloids as they were called were considered sub-human because of a genetic difference. Now they are killed in the womb. In the UK they are stealing peoples children if they are overweight. When will we make the leap to Hitlers vision of just eliminating anyone not physically perfect. He does appear to have many who share his views in this world. Hope for the future is pretty dismal. We have progressed not at all.