Weight loss can be enhanced by gene therapy: study

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On the account of a recent research conducted jointly by the Oregon State University and the University of Florida, researchers concluded that through gene therapy, which involves introducing the leptin hormone directly to the brain, weight loss can be achieved without incurring bone loss as a side effect.

The reduction in bone density is one of the negative results commonly associated with rapid weight loss. This could lead to higher risk of bone injuries as one person gets older, which could, in turn, affect the quality of life according to the study, which was published in the Journal of Endocrinology. The collaborative effort between the universities was backed by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, says one article from EurekAlert.

"Unfortunately, dieting, exercise and weight loss drugs have limited long-term success in controlling weight and can result in detrimental side-effects such as weakening of the bones," said Urszula Iwaniec, an associate professor at the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. "In this study, we show that leptin gene therapy causes effective long-term weight loss while maintaining bone mass."

Iwaniec also cautioned about those who were into "yo-yo dieting" where there is repeated cycles of weight gain and loss. The bone density lost during weight loss is not usually recovered back even if there is weight gain.

The research had shown that about 5 percent of the original weight was lost for a period of four months when the hormone leptin was injected directly to the brain of rats. In comparison to those which did not undergo the therapy, findings also show that there was a considerable reduction of abdominal or "bad" fats in these rats. They were also 20 percent lighter, the Independent reported.

According to Medical News Today, Leptin is also known as the "satiety hormone" because it is responsible for sending signals to our brain on when to stop eating. It is secreted by the adipose cells, or "fat cells." As one person gains more weight, the body will develop some sort of resistance to the hormone and, as a result, the brain won't be receiving the right signals.

However, even though the research has yielded positive results, the authors of the study were also quick to mention that further researches are still needed before gene therapy can be carried out to humans as an effective alternative for losing weight.