Obesity Studies Disputed

Newswise — Repeated studies by a team of 42 researchers worldwide including UAB faculty members David Allison, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics, and Mary Boggiano, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, have been unable to replicate findings of an earlier study showing the hormone PYY3-36 decreases appetite and body-weight gain in rodents. A summary of findings is published in the July 8 issue of Nature, and full details are available online at http://www.pyyobesity.com. "The original study heralded the hormone as a potential new therapy for obesity," says Boggiano. "Although the reason for the discrepancy between the original study and our studies is unclear, results call into question the use of this hormone as an effective anti-obesity drug."