Obesity

Uncovering the molecular basis of obesity

Researchers discover the molecule that links spontaneous physical activity and food intake in mice. Why does the same diet make some of us gain more weight than others? The answer could be a molecule called Bsx. Bsx is the molecular link between spontaneous physical activity and food intake. Mice lacking the molecule show less spontaneous physical activity, perceive hunger signals differently and have a lower concentration of feeding hormones in their brain than normal mice. Being conserved across species, Bsx might be a promising target for controlling diet-induced obesity in humans. Spontaneous physical activity, subconscious movements we make such as fidgeting while working at the computer, and food intake are two crucial factors regulating our body weight. Both are controlled by the same part of the brain, called hypothalamus. "Mice that lack Bsx in their hypothalamus are a lot lazier than normal mice. They show less spontaneous activity and less food seeking behaviour, which is based on locomotor activity."