Obesity is a serious health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers.
Many people struggle to lose weight, and for those with severe obesity, there are very few effective medicines available. This makes managing obesity even more difficult.
But now, new research from Johns Hopkins Medicine gives hope. Scientists have been studying a drug that was first created to treat brain conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia, as well as sickle cell disease. This drug works by blocking a special enzyme in the body called PDE9.
In a study with mice, this drug helped reduce obesity, improve liver health, and make the heart stronger. What’s even more exciting is that the mice did not have to change their diet or do any exercise to see these results.
This new discovery builds on earlier work by the same research team. Back in 2015, they found that the PDE9 enzyme plays a role in heart disease, especially in people with high blood pressure. That led them to ask: could blocking PDE9 also help with other health problems?
Drugs that block PDE9, called PDE9 inhibitors, are still being studied. They are not available to the public yet. These drugs work in a way that’s similar to how Viagra works, but they block a different enzyme. Both of these enzymes affect a chemical in the body called cyclic GMP, which helps control important functions like blood flow and fat storage.
In this latest study, the researchers wanted to see if stopping the PDE9 enzyme could bring more health benefits. They tested whether the drug could lower high blood pressure, reduce blood sugar, lower cholesterol and fat levels in the blood, and reduce body fat—especially fat around the belly.
The drug they used is called PF-04447943. It was first made by a company called Pfizer to treat Alzheimer’s disease. It didn’t work for that purpose, but it was found to be safe in earlier tests with more than 100 people. No serious side effects were reported.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 40% of people in the United States are obese.
Among women over 60, the number is even higher—43%. If this new drug works in humans like it did in mice, it could help people lose a lot of weight. For example, someone who weighs 250 pounds might be able to lose about 50 pounds, just by taking a pill.
This research was led by Dr. David Kass and was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It suggests that in the future, losing weight might not always require strict diets or heavy exercise. That could change the lives of many people who find it hard to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone.
It also adds to the growing discussion about what really causes obesity. Many experts now believe it’s not just about eating too much. There are many factors, including how our bodies handle fat and chemicals.
Still, more research is needed to make sure this drug is safe and works well in people. But if future studies go well, this could become a new way to treat obesity and help millions of people live healthier lives.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about orange that could help obesity, and a berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about ginger’s journey in weight management, and green tea: a cup of weight loss.
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