Weight Control - Can These Hormones Help?

Here's a tongue twister for you. Say N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines. Can't pronounce it? Yeah, neither can I. But this unpronounceable family of hormones -- which, thankfully, are nicknamed NAPEs -- might prove to be a good friend in fighting obesity.

NAPEs are natural substances released in the body which help us to feel full. New research indicates that varieties of this hormone might one day be effective in controlling appetite, which would make it an important soldier in the fight against obesity.

Research is still in its early stages -- tests have only been conducted on rats and mice at this point -- but researchers are cautiously optimistic. In the study, rats who were given NAPEs consistently ate less and lost weight. Though results aren't firm, research indicates that some people may have abnormal releases of NAPEs in their systems, which could potentially contribute to obesity.