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Researchers Fight Fat With Baby Formula

Introducing hormone in infancy trims down rats, sparks controversy

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 23, 2007 3:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – The battle to keep pounds off may start with a baby bottle, say a team of British scientists who found that feeding large doses of the appetite-controlling hormone leptin to baby rats led to svelte adult rats. If those results translate to humans, a baby formula that chemically alters metabolism might someday prove the end of obesity.

The University of Buckingham researchers claim their innovative formula is less than a decade away, and yet naysayers are already crying foul. The difficulty of testing the hormone in human babies is only one stumbling block. One eminent diabetes researcher deemed the approach "science fiction."

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Researchers Fight Fat With Baby Formula

Introducing hormone in infancy trims down rats, sparks controversy

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obesity • health • childhood obesity • diabetes • leptin • children • research • baby

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Babies Off Breast Milk Too Soon

Three-quarters of new moms breast feed, but only 11% long enough

Baby Zzzs Linked to Obesity

Also tied to behavioral problems

Parents Blind to Their Fat Kids

Only 13% recognize when their child is obese

American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up

Obesity epidemic fallout foreshadows serious health troubles

FTC Subpoenas Food Giants on Marketing to Kids

Congress wants data on childhood obesity

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Researchers Fight Fat With Baby Formula

Introducing hormone in infancy trims down rats, sparks controversy

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

obesity • health • childhood obesity • diabetes • leptin • children • research • baby

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Babies Off Breast Milk Too Soon

Three-quarters of new moms breast feed, but only 11% long enough

Baby Zzzs Linked to Obesity

Also tied to behavioral problems

Parents Blind to Their Fat Kids

Only 13% recognize when their child is obese

American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up

Obesity epidemic fallout foreshadows serious health troubles

FTC Subpoenas Food Giants on Marketing to Kids

Congress wants data on childhood obesity

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?