Adapted by:
Pablo Martínez-Juarez
WriterEnvironmental economist and science journalist. For a few years, I worked as a researcher on the economics of climate change adaptation. Now I write about that and much more.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
Our bodies didn’t evolve for the demands of modern life. For much of human history, survival depended on adapting to food shortages by preventing excessive energy consumption and preserving reserves. In today’s world, this once-beneficial strategy has become an obstacle for those trying to lose weight.
A new approach. A recent discovery could change this. Researchers have identified a mechanism in the liver that regulates sugar and fat consumption. Although the research is still in its early stages and limited to animal models, the team believes it could enhance the effectiveness of weight loss and diabetes treatments.
Addressing the deficit. Losing weight may seem simple—burn more calories than you consume. However, the body complicates this by managing its energy balance and reacting to calorie shortages.
When calorie intake is reduced over time, the body compensates by lowering energy consumption, primarily by slowing metabolism. This phenomenon can slow weight loss after dieting, even for individuals using medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
Plvap and metabolism. The research team studied a gene called Plvap in the livers of mice. This gene is also present in human cells. People with mutations that eliminate this gene have difficulty metabolizing lipids (fats), making it a key focus of interest.
The study revealed that Plvap plays a role in the metabolic shift that occurs when the body transitions from burning sugar to burning fat during fasting. If this gene isn’t activated, the body continues burning sugar as if nothing has changed.
Tricking the body. Controlling this newly discovered mechanism could lead to improved weight loss treatments. Researchers propose using the gene to “trick” the liver into regulating metabolism more effectively. Their study was published in the journal Cell.
Beyond weight loss. The widespread interest in weight control is evident from the success of drugs like Ozempic. However, the study’s authors suggest that this discovery could also aid in treating metabolic diseases. One key example is diabetes, given the Plvap protein’s role in processing sugar.
A long road ahead. Turning this discovery into a treatment available to the public will take years. So far, research has only been conducted in mice, meaning these metabolic mechanisms have yet to be confirmed in humans—though they’re expected to function similarly.
Developing a new drug requires extensive time and testing, including rigorous clinical trials. The success of the latest generation of weight loss drugs suggests that pharmaceutical companies are prioritizing this field, ensuring continued research and development efforts.
Image | Total Shape (Unsplash)
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