A hunger-blocking jab could help people lose 10 percent of their body weight in six weeks, new research reveals.
When injected with a specific protein, known as GDF15, obese monkeys lose this amount of weight in just six weeks, as well as their appetite being suppressed by 40 percent, a US study found.
The animals’ glucose levels also improve after jab administration, which lowers their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the research adds.
Although research has only been conducted in animals to date, the findings raise hope of one combating obesity in humans.
Previous studies reveal GDF15 binds to molecules in the stomach and intestines, which causes signals to be sent to the brain that reduce appetite without causing side effects.
Obesity is an epidemic in the western world, affecting up to one-third of the population of the US and UK.
Weight-loss medications generally cause people to lose between seven and 12 percent of their body weight after a year, while bariatric surgery peaks at 30 percent weight loss but is expensive and can result in hernias, bowel obstruction and malnutrition.
