NEWS: A Cure for Fat Mice

GEEK: A Cure for Fat Mice

Word is that Australian scientists have manufactured a mouse that only has half the standard amount of body fat despite an unrestricted diet.

Reportedly, this development is on the road towards a cure for the growing obesity problem that plagues much of the Westernized world.

The study was performed at the Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia. Professor David James has stated that their 'hot mouse' has been made to burn energy much faster than normal.

This missing gene has in it the plan for a protein that slows down fat to energy conversion. And despite these mice not having it, they enjoy the same life span and reproductive capabilities as normal mice.

A drug that could mirror this effect in humans would likely have the same effect, and such medication could be no further away than five years.

Of course, eating sensibly and exercising more is available right now, and has been for years.

You know, I developed a cure for obesity about three years ago; I stopped shoveling chili-cheese fries into my face and started going to the gym. Miraculously I lost 75 pounds.

am i the only one who thought this was a cure for Fat Mike?

The western world...hell, almost everybody, loves convenience.
It doesn't matter that the world's agricultural yeild is dropping while the population continues to grow- just keep em skinny until it all collapses.

No price is too high for... beauty?

[Edited on Nov 05, 2004 by xer0yne]

I actually mistyped it that way while I was editing the story.

Twice.



[Edited on Nov 05, 2004 by Shalome]

I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but this is not the first time this has happened. The leptin knockout mouse has the same phenotype, and I think there's a CCK model that does too. The Neuropeptide Y mouse and the Melanocortin-4 receptor mouse had similar phenotypes. There is as yet no drug available on the market taking advantage of these discoveries, and even direct leptin injections in morbidly obese patients had a very moderate effect on overall body weight. And pharmaceutical companies have been killing themselves trying to develop a drug that works on one of these system, all to no avail. Apparently metabolism is one of those areas where mice are pretty different from humans.

So, what do we do then? Kill a third of the humans so that we have enough food?

exercise?



(okay, it's a rat, but you get the idea. sheesh! )

What do I look like, a guy who's not lazy?

wouldent it simple be easier to enginear a pill that made people understand that eating junk food is bad for them.

All you need is a good coke or speed habit. When you start caring more about the drug then food -- poof -- the pounds shed away. Just stay off the pot - it has the opposite effect.

They are not fat!
*cries into an empty bucket of ice cream*

Bamf!

I doubt that this will lead to anything immediately for the reasons that Legionnaire has mentioned. Still, in todays age there really is no reason for our body to convert all excess energy into fat in a completely unregulated way. The day will come when we have a way (aside from restricting intake, or increasing energy usage) to regulate our metabolic process.

Ugh but like that takes time and like commitment and junk and like gross food that like isn’t sugar soaked and fried and like I don’t have time to exercise what with all the awesome TV on and like I have bad genes and BESIDES, have you seen the new Shrek Twinkies?! Look at these and try to resist them!

Must you always ruin dreams with empirical evidence and undeniable facts?

Id like to see a pill that made people not simplify losing into just 'not eating so much'.

That's exactly what I read...

We got diet food for cats now too? Next thing we're going to see atkins approve these mice.

Those heavy involved in research and scientific endeavors have a tendency to be annoying that way. I do it all the time

Yes, but it doesn't help when the government approves high fattening things for consumption by ignorant people. Half of the problem is High Fructose Corn Syrup, a very high fattening base used in sodas.

I live to please.

Legionnaire - ruining everyone's fun since 1977.

I believe that personal accountability is one of the most important things in the world.

Situational awareness is also helpful.
"Look, the things I'm eating--combined with my total lack of physical activity--are causing me to gain weight. Maybe I should change something in my routine!

Of course, this doesn't cover everyone. Lots of folks suffer from bad injuries that prevent them from being able to exercise effectively, and others suffer from genetic problems. I'm more talking about America's culture of inactivity and stupid eating more than anything else.