Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla may have developed the first-ever vaccine to curb weight gain. Researchers released their findings today. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
It's called an anti-obesity vaccine. Scientists say it slows weight gain by targeting the hormone ghrelin. The hormone regulates the body's metabolism. Scientists injected the vaccine into mature male rats. They found the rats ate the same and drank the same, but gained less weight. They also had less body fat. Scripps scientist Doctor Kim Janda says the finding is especially important for yo-yo dieters.
They're weight might go down, but it comes back up again - so its up down up down. So this could have potential inroads for people that are undergoing dieting that have repeated weight gain.
Janda says the vaccine is not a cure-all for obesity. He says much more research is needed. The study is published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
