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(Ivanhoe Newswire) A new study reveals its not just the ice cream and potato chips causing you gain weight. Your nervous system may play a role in your size. Scientists say it explains why some people can eat what they want and not gain weight and others put on the pounds
The study was done by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco. The research involved worms because of their simplicity compared to mammals. Researchers say the amount of fat in worms depends on serotonin levels in the nervous system. They say the nerve messenger acts through independent channels to control whether you eat verses what to do with those calories once youve eaten them.
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It says that the nervous system is a key regulator coordinating all energy-related processes through distinct molecular pathways, says Kaveh Ashrafi. The nervous system makes a decision about its state leading to effects on behavior, reproduction, growth and metabolism. These outputs are related, but they are not consequences of each other. Its not that feeding isnt important, but the neural control of fat is distinct from feeding.
Study authors say they hope to extrapolate these findings in humans. Investigators say it may mean therapeutic strategies could be developed to manipulate fat metabolism independently of what you eat.
SOURCE: Cell Metabolism, 2008; 7:533-544
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