Adipotide
An obesity drug that 'kills' fat cells
Most weight-loss drugs help burn fat by speeding up metabolism, suppressing appetite, or both. But a new drug currently being tested on obese rhesus monkeys goes a step further: It reportedly "kills" fat cells. Researchers at the University of Texas think the drug could one day help fight obesity in humans. Here's what you should know:
During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state in the United States had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Approximately one in three adults and one in six children are obese. Obesity is epidemic in the United States today and a major cause of death, attributable to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
