Scientists have found a way to develop the genetic modification of fats in the body that will effectively deal with age-related changes associated with obesity. So far the technique worked on rats, but biologists believe that it will work for humans as well.

The issue of combating obesity has a long history: now, about 12% of the adult population of the Earth, or one of nine, suffers by overweight. According to a study at Harvard University 2008 - 9.8% of men and 13.8% women are obese. Their body mass index (the ratio of body weight to his height squared) was more than 30 kg / sq. m (considered a normal BMI at 18.5 kg / sq m. to 24.99 kg / sq m.).

Scientists now offer a revolutionary new method of dealing with fat - its transformation from one type to another, thereby stimulating more rapid burning of calories and weight loss.

In an article published in the journal Cell Metabolism, explains the mechanism of suppression of expression of the gene responsible for the work of a specific cellular protein that is associated with the emergence of feelings of hunger.

The importance of this protein is that it regulates the transition between the two types of fats in the body. So-called "white fat" is harmful: that is what we see under the skin of obese people, it provokes metabolic disorder up to diabetes. "Brown fat" - a healthy fats, which are used by the body as an energy source. Stocked brown fat can produce heat and energy for life. The last type of fat is typical for infants and children.

Over the years, brown fat leaves the body and replaced with white, useless fat. It is deposited on the waist and buttocks of elderly people suffering from obesity. Therefore, to effectively combat obesity should "rejuvenation" of fat - stimulating the synthesis of brown fat in the white damage. If "young" fat substitute "old" in mature organisms, it will allow people aged not only keep in shape, but also to protect themselves from affecting the completeness problems - cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

A team of scientists in medical school at Johns Hopkins University under the direction of Bi Sheng reached such a result, though still for the rats. They suppressed the activity of the protein NPY stimulates appetite in the brain of rats. Laboratory rodents resulting easily avoid overeating and could boast of weight loss.

Then the task was complicated: the rats were given a very special fatty foods. However, the reduction in weight compared with the control group, which has not been altered proteins work, continued. The secret to slimming rats revealed when analyzing the type of fat animals of two groups. In rats with suppressed NPY protein considerable percentage of white fat cover their "young" brown fat.

The practical application of this technique in humans is associated with the use of stem cells which are old-old. Doctors plan to do subcutaneous injections of stem cells in order to reduce the number of white fat and stimulate weight loss.