14 DAY TRIAL // One way to tackle the obesity pandemic is by coming up with an effective solution to curb cravings, thus make the dieter eat only when they’re hungry. In fact, previous researches have already paved the way in that direction, with various suppressants being discovered and / or created, each working to a greater or smaller extent for said purpose. Now, scientists at the University of Manchester have stumbled upon a natural suppressant that could hold the key to the solution.
Called hemopressin, the peptide could work in curbing not only cravings for food but also for addictive substances like alcohol and drugs. In other words, there is now hope that it could, one day, be used to help the overweight to eat only when hungry and the addicts to confront their demons and resist temptation. According to the findings of Professor Simon Luckman and Dr. Garron Dodd, hemopressin affects the reward part of the brain, the same one that is also involved in hedonistic behavior.
“It has long been known that the rewarding aspects of feeding behavior influence our appetite, so that sometimes we eat for pleasure rather than hunger. This is because the cannabinoid system in the brain – a component of the naturally-existing circuitry responsible for reward – is affected by chemicals that are termed ‘agonists’ which bind to its receptors and increase the reward from feeding. One such agonist is cannabis – it hijacks the cannabinoid system and leads to what is colloquially referred to as ‘the munchies’,” Dr. Dodd explains.
“Similarly, when you fast, the brain causes an increase in naturally-occurring agonists. This results in increased hedonic impact so that when you do eat, food tastes better. Conversely when ‘antagonists’ bind to the receptors of the cannabinoid system, it decreases the reward from feeding. By reducing hedonistic feeding, it is possible to help people lose weight by quenching the desire to eat,” the researcher further explains.
As is usually the case, the study was conducted on mice, but further investigation is still necessary. So far, researchers have established that, while administering hemopressin leads to a considerable curbing of cravings, none of the side-effects normally associated with appetite suppressants were noticeable. However, whether the same effects will also happen in humans is still to be determined.