An experimental antibody drug may help obese and overweight people shed the kilograms.
The findings come from early research in the US that tested a drug which mimics the effects of a natural hormone that governs food intake.
Within one week of receiving a single dose through an injection, people who were overweight started eating fewer calories.
Their food preferences shifted away from sweets, while levels of their "good" HDL cholesterol increased, and the measure of "bad" LDL cholesterol, insulin and triglycerides all fell. The effects lasted up to two months.
There are all these intriguing prospects
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer reviewed American journal and was led by Dr Puneet Arora, the vice president of clinical development at biopharmaceutical company, Principia Biopharma.
"We always want to be careful about reading too much into early research," said Dr Arora. "[But these] are all intriguing prospects."
The researchers said the results suggest stimulating what are known as FGF21 receptors may dampen people's appetites for sweets, and possibly alcohol.
Variants in the FGF21 gene have been associated with a sweet tooth and preference for carbohydrates.
Previous research has also shown people who are obese, have type 2 diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have higher levels of FGF21 circulating in their blood.
Past studies have administered modified versions of FGF21 to induce metabolic improvements, but it was cleared too quickly to take effect.
So researchers made a lab-engineered version, which they tested in a group of 60 overweight and obese adults for the study.
They were selected to receive a single injection of the antibody, or a placebo.
The participants followed a controlled diet over the following week, and at the end of the period people who received the antibody drug were shown to have lost more weight, at around 0.9kg on average.
However, the weight returned quickly once the study was over, in three days, but improvements in cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar were longer lasting.
Obesity is a problem across the globe, including the Gulf. A recent study found obesity rates in the Gulf have reached record highs, with at least a third of women and a quarter of men in the UAE classed as excessively overweight.
Efforts have been made to address the issue with the introduction of a 50 per cent tax applied in 2017 to all carbonated drinks and a 100 per cent tax on energy drinks.
The demand for obesity treatments has grown worldwide in recent months as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
People with obesity are at substantially higher risk of developing complications from coronavirus, being around 74 per cent more likely to require intensive care, and 48 per cent more likely to die as a result.
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Company%20Profile
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The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
The Bio
Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees (oats with chicken) is one of them
Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.
Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results
During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks
Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy
Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
