When these extra weights were added the mice body fat decreased and blood glucose levels improved. This result strongly suggests that something inside the body can detect the extra bulk and can reverse the body weight increase by reducing food intake. Increased body weight seems to activate a sensor that is dependent on osteocytes in the weight-bearing long bones of the lower extremities. However, despite leptin’s involvement in body-weight regulation and despite years of research, leptin didn’t lead to any new obesity treatment. The hope now is that activation of this newly discovered internal body scales in combination with the leptin system can become an effective treatment for obesity.

Source: The Irish Times March 29, 2018 15:00 UTC