Experimental Drug Spurs Substantial Weight Loss In People With Proopiomelanocortin Deficiency.

“An experimental drug spurred substantial weight loss in people with” proopiomelanocortin deficiency, “a rare genetic disorder that causes severe obesity because patients feel perpetually hungry.” The two patients involved in the study “account for two-thirds of all known adult cases worldwide, said” Marc Reitman, MD, PhD, of the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The findings were published July 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine. extreme obesity. And that, research has shown, seems to stem from a lack of another hormone derived from POMC -- called melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). Without MSH, people are constantly hungry. "It's like your body doesn't know you've been fed, no matter how much you eat," Reitman said. What's not clear is whether the findings have any relevance for the millions of people with "garden-variety" obesity, Reitman said. It's possible there is an issue with "MSH signaling" in some cases of common obesity, he said I am ALWAYS hungry. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/obesity-health-news-505/new-drug-may-help-people-with-rare-disorder-causing-constant-hunger-713082.html