Fat Stop Vaccine?

Having trouble losing fat or losing weight?  This vaccine may be the answer.

Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute believe they have a vaccine effective in preventing human obesity. In a recent new study, the vaccine fooled the natural metoabolic processes of 17 rats by neutralising the effects of a protein, ghrelin, closely linked to weight gain. The human body has the same protein, which is also closely linked to weight gain. 

It is believed the vaccine will be a “serious workable solution to the growing problem of human obesity”.  Obesity and overweight have become a serious public health problem in the USA with 31% of all adults obese and 65% overweight. Further, the studies showed the vaccine most effective when rats are on a low-fat, low-energy diet. How this will work when most western-diets are high-fat and high energy remains to be seen.

The basis of the vaccine relies on our bodys reaction to erratic food supply of the cave man era.  During that time, without refrigeration, food was eaten in great quantities when found, followed by long lean periods of forced fasting. Today, with good continuous food supply, the body still stores as much as possible, putting on weight fast. The ghrelin in our bodies will do the same as thousands of years ago – store as much energy as possible to prepare for lean times. Ghrelin, instead of being an asset for survival, may now have become a liability.

Ghrelin was only discovered seven years ago. Any vaccine which stops what ghrelin makes our bodies do could have a significant impact on obesity rates. It appears the vaccine will be effective only in preventing obesity rather than making obese people slim again. Still good news for many!! 

Read about this study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Nicola