Scientists say a gut hormone could explain why high protein diets can aid weight loss. PYY is released when a person eats protein-rich foods and sends signals to the brain indicating fullness. The Medical Research Council team at University College London believe their findings could help tackle obesity. But dieticians said much more work was needed before people could be advised to make long-term changes to their eating habits. It’s not a diet that you would go on for a few months. You would go on it for life Lead researcher Dr Rachel Batterham Many popular diets, including the Atkins, employ high protein foods. Although there has been evidence to suggest high protein diets are effective in achieving and maintaining weight loss, the reasons for this have been unclear. Although PYY was discovered more than 20 years ago, its role is still debated. Dr Rachel Batterham and colleagues have shown that low levels of PYY can result in obesity. Dietary control High protein diets lead to highest PYY levels in the body and the greatest curb in hunger in both obese and normal weight people. Overall, however, the PYY […]