Fish: New Models for Obesity Treatments

With the steady increase of obese and overweight people in the U.S. for the past 30 years, researchers are compelled to look for means to put a stop to it. They actually found an unconventional way to study obesity treatments - through a fish. Yes, researchers from the Center of Study of Weight Regulation and Associated Disorders at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon have actually discovered how fish can help put a stop to obesity.

The idea might seem farfetched and be somewhat hard to believe, but the researchers found a way to cause obesity in a zebra fish by putting the same kind of genetic mutation that causes severe obesity in people. In this study, they discovered how the genetic change caused obesity in the fish. It blocked the activity of the melanocortin-4 receptor, which is located at the center of a device in the brain called the adipostat. The role of the adipostat is to homeostatically regulate body weight and keep long-term energy stores such as body fat constant. In more simple terms, people have difficulty losing weight and keeping it off because of the adipostat.

It seems unbelievable that a fish can help find treatments for obesity. But this is good news especially to those who are already overweight or obese or on the road to it. The genetic model of obesity in a fish can actually greatly hasten the development of new drugs since scientists can better understand the molecular basis of this disease. This will ultimately increase the efficiency of drug development and people can have access to the medicines eventually. This is helpful for overweight and obese people who need support in losing weight and keeping it off.

It is possible that some obese people require other weight loss treatment options if a change in diet and exercise regimen are not enough. Others may resort to taking prescription drugs, natural weight loss supplements or even surgery just to get rid of the excess fat. These options are acceptable also as long as they are only used in support to having a balanced diet and regular exercise routine. Overweight and obese people should make an extra effort to start a lifestyle change. They should begin by eating the right foods and right amount of food. Then they should combine it with a regular daily exercise routine. And they should only consider the other options if it was recommended by a doctor.

With the fish model, a new option will be available to overweight and obese people in the near future. Obesity is a serious problem that should be addressed. Being obese or overweight can increase the risk of a lot of diseases and health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, among others. This fish can actually help obese and overweight people lose the unwanted pounds and in turn, lessen the risk for such diseases. It is a marvel how basic experimental biology can produce effective results on human problems.