Weight loss pill can keep muscle and target fat - NZ researchers
Researchers at Auckland University are developing a new weight loss pill that redirects energy into muscle rather than fat storage. The team aims to bring the drug to market within four years as an alternative to current appetite-suppressing injectables.
Why it matters
This potential breakthrough could offer a more effective way to manage obesity while preserving muscle mass, tapping into a massive global health market.
Kiwi researchers say they are well on their way to producing a world-first method of losing weight – allowing people to still enjoy their food. A team at Auckland University is developing a pill which targets the body’s ability to store fat – rather than reduce appetite – as other medicines did. Auckland University professor of cell signalling Peter Shepherd explained: “What this drug does is it shuffles the fat in your body so it doesn’t get stored in the fat cells. It gets used by your muscle instead.
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