Newly published obesity research coming out of the University of Alberta has touched upon a possible avenue for obesity reduction. <\/p>\n
Jason Dyck, a U of A medical researcher and professor, is the lead researcher for the study, which may be close to finding a new way to combat obesity. <\/p>\n
In this study, mice are fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet the type of diet that generally leads to obesity. They then have adiponectin DNA injected into their leg muscles. <\/p>\n
Adiponectin, secreted by fat cells, is known to have heart-protective and weight-regulating properties. If fat cells get too large, they no longer secrete normal amounts of the hormone-like substance. <\/p>\n
What Dyck and his research team have found is the mice receiving this gene therapy start to produce adiponectin in higher levels, thus exhibiting weight loss. <\/p>\n
Regardless of its high fat diet, the mouse is acting like a skinny mouse, Dyck said. <\/p>\n
Treating obesity as an illness has raised some eyebrows in the Edmonton community, including radio show host Yukon Jack who said, if being fat is a disease, then playing bingo is a professional sport. <\/p>\n
Dyck says this viewpoint probably reflects the majority of opinions about obesity. However, many doctors and medical professonals consider obesity a disease. <\/p>\n
But this type of research has broader applications than just exercise-free weight loss. Obesity is closely linked with the loss of insulin sensitivity observed in Type 2 Diabetes. <\/p>\n
What we are seeing with this gene therapy is a significant, but modest effect on weight gain. Despite only a slight reduction in weight gain, we are still seeing almost a complete restoration of insulin sensitivity, Dyck said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
See more here: <\/p>\n
Gene therapy a possible option for obesity<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Newly published obesity research coming out of the University of Alberta has touched upon a possible avenue for obesity reduction. Jason Dyck, a U of A medical researcher and professor, is the lead researcher for the study, which may be close to finding a new way to combat obesity. In this study, mice are fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet the type of diet that generally leads to obesity. Continue reading