Drugs that influence a person’s eating habits can play a role in tackling extreme overweight. Professor Roger Adan, who is a molecular pharmacologist researching eating disorders, has claimed this in the July issue of Uniek, UMC Utrecht’s magazine. Adan is not in favor of introducing a special tax to counteract overweight. In Uniek Professor Roger Adan explains how his research aims to unravel the secrets of eating behaviors through genetic means. For example, he has found some genetic variations that occur more often in extremely overweight (obese) people who eat very large portions. Apparently, eating patterns can be genetically differentiated. Adan is affiliated to University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht as professor of molecular pharmacology.
Adan says: “a general, so-called ‘fat tax’ which basically means paying more for unhealthy food does not seem to me to be a move in the right direction. I think that we have to look at overweight within the context of its causes. Some people are too fat because they put too much food on their plates, others because they eat too many snacks and can never say no. Other people do too little exercise. All these causes of overweight require a different approach.”
In addition, Adan expects that in the near future, people will be able to benefit from drugs in order to lose weight. “From a pharmacological point of view, it is quite possible to inhibit the appetite – the problem is with the side effects. I certainly expect new appetite suppressants to come onto the market in the future. However, it is important to weigh up all the factors relating to the benefits of the drug in question and its side effects.
Other news in Uniek New light thrown on schizophrenia. Through a new method of MRI brain scanning, researcher René Mandl is able to see which areas of the brain actively connect with each other. This has increased insight into the psychiatric disorder of schizophrenia. A debate on admission requirements for doctors from abroad who want to start work in the Netherlands. A new language test has proved to be a barrier for many. Does this amount to a destruction of capital?
You can read Uniek no. 3 online at
www.umcutrecht.nl/uniek. Download the pdf from the site or just read the magazine online.