Australian and British researchers believe they know why
people who give up smoking gain weight. The researchers, from the International
Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Deakin University in Geelong and the University
of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, studied the levels of the hormone leptin in male smokers
and non-smokers from Nauru, Western Somoa and Mauritius. Leptin, discovered only
two years ago, controls appetite. Nicotine, according to the research, acts on
the brain and makes smokers more sensitive to leptin. Their appetite is
suppressed, says Paul Zimmet, leader of the research team. But when a
person stops smoking, the brain becomes less sensitive to leptin. 鈥淪o they eat
more,鈥� Zimmet says. The research was published last month in the
International Journal of Obesity. Knowledge gained during the study, which
may lead to new treatments for obesity, has been licensed to Autogen, an
Australian biotechnology company.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Space
A robot called GIMLI will explore a lunar cave for a future moon base
91色情片
91色情片
The economic benefits of the covid vaccines may be double what we thought
News
Humans
Tomb in Siberia reveals humans were using cannabis 2800 years ago
News
Technology
Google shouldn鈥檛 be pressuring schools to use its AI
91色情片
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles