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LONDON : Scientists in Britain have come-up with a revolutionary new way to beat the growing obesity crisis.
A new drug is being developed, designed to reduce people's appetite for food by making them feel they have eaten enough.
It is hoped the drug, based on the natural "feeling full" hormone given out by the body, could be incorporated into pill form or even chewing gum to stop over-eating.
Worldwide, an estimated one billion people are overweight, compared with the 800 million who are undernourished, so the findings could have global implications.
A country that eats too much, that's the conclusion of many health experts in the United Kingdom.
Obesity rates are on the rise, and with a growing number of fast food restaurants serving up whatever we want, whenever we want, the problem is getting worse.
Currently, obesity-related illnesses kill more than 30,000 people in England a year.
But in a world where popular culture is driven by size zero role models, the pressure to be thin is greater than ever.
So, how can our appetite for food - and lots of it, be compatible with our hunger for the perfect figure?
Well, one man who claims to have the answer to over-eating is Professor Steve Bloom from London's Imperial College Hospital.
He is leading a team of scientists who are developing a natural hormone that can reduce our appetite and mimic the stomach feeling full.
Professor Bloom said: "We were able to extract this hormone and then give it to human volunteers and show that it absolutely switched off their appetite and was very potent. We therefore, sort of proved the theory and also gave an indication of a possible way to treat obesity.
"We think this hormone is a way in which we can adapt to the free availability to plenty of food and the lack of necessity for any serious exercise everyday."
So just how serious is the obesity problem in Britain?
According to medical research charity The Wellcome Trust, there is a clear need to tackle the problem.
Dr Ted Bianco has overseen a grant of more than two million pounds in Professor Bloom's research.
Dr Bianco said: "Now in the UK we are seeing something like 1,000 deaths, preventable deaths a week from obesity, and we don't understand why. If these were jumbo jets crashing to the ground - two jumbo jets each week - and we didn't know if it was the engines or the undercarriage that was bringing them down, we would have grave cause for concern. So the research has a part to play."
However, many concerned about the country's weight are warning that medical breakthroughs cannot be a substitute for looking after your health.
Gemma Edwards is from the charity Diabetes UK.
"I don't think it will solve the problem. It could definitely help people who are finding weight loss very difficult . But our message to all people - not just those with diabetes - is to follow a healthy balanced diet and not to rely on quick fix treatments for their weight maintenance."
While a breakthrough drug might be some years off, the research taking place could offer a vital helping hand to millions of people who struggle with their weights. - CNA/de
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