Vaccines against obesity

Professor Kim Janda
(Photo: chem.uky.edu)

US scientists have developed a vaccine to help prevent weight gain. This vaccine has resulted in successful testing in mice and is being studied further for human use.

The anti-fat vaccine - developed by scientists at Scripps Research Institute in California - has prompted the body to produce antibodies against ghrelin, a hormone that causes hunger and weight gain.

Test results showed that vaccinated mice had less weight gain than other mice, although they ate the same amount of food.

The researchers say the results suggest that active vaccination against ghrelin can be used to control weight and fat accumulation in mammals."Our goal is to create a vaccine that will make people lose weight even though a vaccine like that poses more difficulties for us ," said lead researcher Kim Janda.

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