metabolism

Science

Failed Alzheimer’s drug finds new life as anti-obesity pill

A drug originally designed to treat Alzheimer’s has been found to reduce obesity and improve heart function in mice. The drug was previously found to be ineffective treating dementia, but it's suggested it could be useful in stimulating fat metabolism.

New research found individuals not responding well to weight loss interventions had specific microbiome differences compared to those who effectively lost weight

Health & Wellbeing

How gut bacteria may be sabotaging your weight loss efforts

Can the make-up of your gut microbiome affect the success of a weight loss intervention? A unique new study is indicating this is certainly possible, identifying several mechanisms by which gut bacteria can either help or hinder weight loss.

A new study is the first to detect the pesticide chlorpyrifos inhibiting metabolic processes in brown fat cells

Science

Common pesticide may slow calorie-burning and contribute to obesity

Research has found a common pesticide may promote obesity by slowing the calorie-burning ability of certain fat cells. The animal study indicates chlorpyrifos, to be banned in the US, promotes food intake and suppresses thermogenesis in brown fat.

The new research uncovered the molecular mechanism linking high cholesterol with cancer metastasis

Medical

Researchers discover how cholesterol feeds cancer metastasis

New research has identified one of the ways cholesterol can enhance the ability of cancer cells to metastasize. The study focused particularly on breast cancer, shedding light on prior observational work linking statin use to higher survival rates.

Visceral fat is found deep in the abdominal cavity, where it poses a grave risk to human health

Medical

Study pinpoints "interpreter" cells that trigger burning of deep fat

Deep-lying visceral fat stores are linked to a range of health conditions, but a new study has revealed a chain of command that guides their metabolism, opening up some exciting possibilities around how they might be more effectively burned away.

New research has found our metabolism is surprisingly stable between the ages of 20 and 60

Health & Wellbeing

Landmark study finds surprising timing of life’s metabolic highs and lows

A landmark new study offers some of the first insights into how our metabolism changes with age, revealing the rate at which we burn calories peaks in infancy and is remarkably constant between the ages of 20 and 60.

New research indicates that for optimal muscle growth protein should be primarily consumed early in the day

Health & Wellbeing

More protein at breakfast makes for better muscle growth, study indicates

A fascinating new study from researchers in Japan indicates our metabolism of dietary proteins is influenced by when we consume meals. The study found protein consumed early in the day promotes better skeletal muscle health and growth.

New research has shown low-calorie diets increase levels of a bacterium called Clostridioides difficile, found in high levels in patients suffering from gut inflammation

Science

Pathogenic gut bacteria linked to weight loss from low-calorie diet

A new study investigating how a low-calorie diet alters gut microbial populations is reporting unexpected results, finding a strange relationship between extreme caloric restriction and increased levels of a bacteria linked to inflammatory bowel disease.

A trial found fasting subjects lost as much muscle mass as fat, whereas those eating a calorie controlled diet lost mostly fat

Health & Wellbeing

Caloric restriction beats fasting diets for weight loss, new trial finds

A trial led by researchers from the University of Bath questions the value of popular fasting diets, finding a simple calorie-controlled diet is more effective at reducing weight. The trial also found fasting can lead to greater losses of muscle mass.

A new study has found that boosting a certain gene extends the lifespan of mice, by mimicking the effects of a calorie restricted diet (not pictured)

Health & Wellbeing

Caloric restriction-mimicking gene extends health and lifespan of mice

Our health inevitably declines as we age, but maybe we can slow it down. A new study has found that boosting a certain gene in mice can increase their lifespan and keep them in better health for longer by mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.

Scientists have identified sets of proteins in the blood that can indicate how likely a person is to benefit from exercise designed to boost cardiorespiratory fitness

Medical

Blood protein score might predict which exercise will benefit you most

Why do some people benefit from some types of exercise more than others? Scientists investigating this question have demonstrated how profiles of certain proteins in the blood can predict a person's "trainability."

New research has found blocking a specific receptor frequently found in fat cells helped increase energy metabolism and fat-burning mechanisms

Health & Wellbeing

Anti-obesity discovery directly targets energy metabolism in fat cells

Researchers have discovered a new method to treat obesity by blocking a receptor in fat cells and speeding up energy expenditure. An experimental drug has been developed targeting this receptor and it has been effective at preventing obesity in mice.