Drug 'tricks body to lose weight'

by LotusFlower | November 7, 2008 at 11:55 am

675 views | 20 Recommendations | 7 comments

French scientists have come up with a drug that allows you to eat rich, fatty food and still lose weight.

The drug derived from a chemical similar to one found in red wine tricks the body into losing weight.

Drugs like these will have a place amongst other treatments but should not be seen as a wonder cure for obesity and overweight people should combine its use with good diet and exercise.

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.

UK obesity experts said new drug treatments were needed but should be used alongside lifestyle changes.

About a quarter of men and a third of women in the UK are overweight, according to government statistics.

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."

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Amy Judd

at 13:15 on November 7th, 2008

Sign me up!

This sounds like that article yesterday about the perfume that can help you lose weight

So really, we never have to do anything anymore!

jamaludin1

at 15:25 on November 7th, 2008

Many Asian food are sweet and tasty. This particular "Cucur Karia" is made from sweet potato and flour. Deep fried and glazed with sugar. It is very sweet and, of course, not good for those suffering from diabetes. However, biiter gourd is one of the Asian/Malaysians' favourite vegertables taken quite regularly. This vegetable fruit is said to reduce sugar level in our bodies.

jamaludin1 has contributed a photo to this story.

farah.sayyed

at 22:23 on November 9th, 2008

Delicious and Dangerous?

Silent Resilience has contributed a photo to this story.

secondpage

at 05:22 on November 10th, 2008

Fried fish

secondpage has contributed a photo to this story.

RadioLux

at 08:28 on November 10th, 2008

Although the food (fried onion strings from Cheeseburger in Paradise) is quite delicious, it should be worth noting that I don't eat this every day and that it is treated as more of a once in a while treat than anything else. Moderation in eating healthy what really counts. I actually lost about 10 pounds last month from eating right and doing more exercise than I usually do; which is up from nothing actually. Changing daily lifetime habits can do more for you than taking any drug. It takes less money from you in the long run and frees up medical healthcare to care for more people. When you don't take care of yourself, you're being reckless in taking care away from someone that may need it.

RadioLux has contributed a photo to this story.