A fat belly is deaf to the feeling of satiety

Neuropeptide Y is the most powerful of the known appetite–stimulating hormones, the excess of which creates a constant feeling of hunger and stimulates overweight people to consume large amounts of food.

Traditionally, it was believed that neuropeptide Y was synthesized exclusively by brain cells, however, Dr. Yaiping Yang and his colleagues from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) found that adipocytes of abdominal (located in the abdominal area, including the surrounding abdominal organs) adipose tissue are also capable of producing this hormone. The authors believe that this discovery will form the basis of new methods of treating obesity.

Fat cells are not capable of division, however, under the action of neuropeptide Y, their number increases due to stimulation of the division of progenitor cells, which subsequently differentiate into fat cells. This can lead to the formation of a vicious circle, when the neuropeptide Y synthesized by the brain forces a person to eat more, which leads to the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area, which in turn begins to synthesize neuropeptide Y, which stimulates the formation of new adipocytes.

Excess weight, regardless of the localization of fat, is an unhealthy sign. However, due to the anatomical location and by-products of the functioning of cells, abdominal fat is the most dangerous for health. People predisposed to the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area are at risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and some types of cancer.

As part of the next stage of the work, the scientists plan to find out whether the neuropeptide Y synthesized by adipose tissue is released into the circulatory system, which can ensure its entry into the brain and additional stimulation of hunger. If this is indeed the case, elevated levels of neuropeptide Y can be detected with a simple blood test. The authors emphasize that early detection of high levels of this hormone will prevent the development of obesity with targeted treatment, which is much easier than subsequently treating obesity-associated diseases.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily

21.04.2008