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Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Scientists discover how you can turn on your body's natural Ozempic to lose weight without the nasty side effects
Your body's gut bacteria has its very own Ozempic-like system, a study suggests, and scientists believe manipulating it could ramp up weight loss without the drug's nasty side effects. Researchers from Duke University in North Carolina have discovered specialized bacteria and cells in the colon that can send signals to the brain to control how much you eat and curb appetite, similarly to how weight-loss drugs work. In the animal study, the scientists found that while eating, a gut bacteria known as flagella releases flagellin protein that then produces a hormone called PYY. When the body feels full or has reached food satisfaction, the PYY hormone alerts the colon's neurobiotic sense, a direct communication channel between the gut and nervous system, to let the brain know to stop eating in real time and prevent a person from consuming excessive calories. The scientists found that when this bacterial sensing system breaks down, people tend to eat more food and gain significantly more weight than people with a fully functioning system, which can lead to obesity. As a result, they concluded that this unique system naturally mimics the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1 drugs in the body and can help control weight gain. They also believe that manipulating the bacterial system and enhancing the natural communication, through certain diets or by taking prebiotics and probiotics, could help with weight loss. Senior author Diego Bohórquez, an associate professor of medicine and neurobiology at the university, said: 'Looking ahead, I think this work will be especially helpful for the broader scientific community to explain how our behavior is influenced by microbes.' He continued: 'We were curious whether the body could sense microbial patterns in real time and not just as an immune or inflammatory response, but as a neural response that guides behavior in real time.' The study, which was published in Nature, tested the gut mechanism on two groups of mice: one which had the receptors for the PYY hormone in their gut, known as TLR5, and another that did not. Both groups of mice fasted overnight and were given a small dose of flagellin directly into the colon the next day. The mice with TLR5 receptors in their gut ate less the next day, while those without consumed larger meals and gained more weight. The increased food consumption was seen in both male and female mice. While the results are yet to be replicated in humans, the scientists concluded that the flagellin could trigger cells in the gut to send an appetite-suppressing signal to the brain. According to the researchers, the key player in the system is flagellin. When excessive amounts of food are consumed, the gut bacteria releases high amounts of flagellin in the colon, which in turn sends more urgent signals to the brain to stop eating. The scientists noted that without the TLR5 receptors and the gut's 'We've had enough' signal, the person continues to eat without realizing they are full. The results indicated that the presence of TLR5 receptors in the gut's cells and the production of the PYY hormone act as the body's natural 'stop eating' signal. The study authors wrote: 'It's similar to how we use our other senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch – to interpret our world. But this one operates from an unexpected place: The gut.' Based on these results, the scientists hope to further understand how the gut detects microbes and can influence everything from eating habits to mood. Popular weight-loss drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) target brain chemistry and suppressing appetite, but they can also lead to long-term side effects and damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys and thyroid. However, the discovery of the gut's 'sixth sense' of food consumption, as well as the possibility to increase the presence of flagella through diet changes or supplements, can help people naturally lose weight without suffering the extreme side effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
This is the best time to take an exam to boost your chances of passing, study finds
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Midday may be the best time to take an oral exam, interview for a job, or even go on trial, a new study has found. Researchers at Italy's University of Messina found a significant difference in students' pass rates in the late morning compared to early morning or late afternoon. At 12pm the students' passing rate was 72 per cent, compared to 54 per cent at 8am and 51 per cent at 4pm. Pass rates at 11am and 1pm were slightly lower at 67 per cent. 'We show that academic assessment outcomes vary systematically across the day, with a clear peak in passing rates around midday,' said Professor Carmelo Mario Vicario. 'Students were more likely to pass in late morning compared with early morning or late afternoon,' he said. 'We believe this pattern could extend to job interviews or any evaluative process scheduled throughout the day.' The study was based on the outcome of 104,552 assessments delivered by 680 examiners for 1,243 courses. The researchers chose to look at university oral exams, which are more subjective and aren't marked solely on correct answers, but also on delivery. It follows research showing that judges are more likely to rule in favour of a defendant at the start of sessions or after meal breaks. However, it is thought that this could also come down to the types of cases that are heard at different times of day. The study's author believes the findings could extend to job interviews ( Getty/iStock ) While the study could not identify the exact cause, it said the midday peak was consistent with evidence that cognitive performance improves over the morning and declines during the afternoon. The report said this could be due to the students' falling energy levels, as well as professors', who may give a harsher mark if they are experiencing decision fatigue. Researchers also said that it could be a result of students and professors competing chronotypes, the body's natural preference of sleeping times. 'People in their early 20s are usually night owls, while people in their 40s or older tend to be morning larks. The students might be least cognitively sharp at the time when the professors are most alert.' Prof Vicario suggested that to counteract these effects, students would benefit from better sleep, mental breaks, and scheduling exams outside of personal low periods. 'For institutions, delaying morning sessions or clustering key assessments in the late morning may improve outcomes. 'We believe this pattern could extend to job interviews or any evaluative process scheduled throughout the day. 'We would be very interested in investigating whether hiring decisions, too, fluctuate in fairness or outcome depending on time of day.'
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
The NHS change that could prevent 6,500 cancer cases each year
A new study suggests that thousands of breast cancer cases could be prevented annually in the UK by expanding eligibility for risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM). The research indicates that approximately 6,500 cases could be averted each year if RRM was more widely adopted beyond current genetic predispositions. Currently, RRM is primarily offered to women with BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 genes, but the study proposes including those with other high-risk genes like ATM and CHEK2. The study also highlights that a combination of factors, including family history, parity, breastfeeding, and mammogram density, should be considered for RRM eligibility. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found RRM to be cost-effective for women aged 30-55 with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 35 per cent or more.
