Chinese Discovery of a New Hormone Influencing Satiety

Chinese researchers have discovered a new hormone that influences the feeling of satiety. The hormone 'Raptin' suppresses hunger and slows down the digestion process. However, its level decreases with lack of sleep. Literally speaking, to lose weight, one needs to sleep more. A study of 262 Chinese participants showed that Raptin was lower in the 127 individuals who suffered from obesity. Another 30 people were subjected to sleep restrictions for a full 3 months. As a result, the Raptin level dropped and body weight increased. Scientists are now working on creating a synthetic hormone which could form the basis for anti-obesity drugs.