Comment by perching_aix
20 hours ago
If a molecule can downregulate (downmodulate?) cravings so effectively, could there be a molecule that does the opposite?
This is basically about as far as I feel like entertaining conspiracy theories. I think it's a fairly grounded one, compared to most.
Not claiming that a molecule or a class of such molecules (or a perfect storm of unrelated molecules acting indirectly) is behind the obesity epidemic, or that there's explicit malicious intention involved, just that it does make me wonder.
Processed food companies have been trying to find that for the last century and they've largely succeeded without specifying any particular molecule. You know Pringles chips?
You might find Slime Mold Time Mold's "A Chemical Hunger" interesting: http://achemicalhunger.com/
Fun!
I propose that it's less about the molecule and more about the receptor, and the heuristically self-balancing system and the novel environment it finds itself in.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prader%E2%80%93Willi_syndrome
Thanks for the link, haven't heard of this disease before. Sounds absolutely miserable. At least the root cause is a clear one.
I find the treatment that got approved for its effect on hunger last year interesting. It's a completely different drug to semaglutide and its analogs. Quick search suggests that it's seemingly not as effective for ordinary obesity, but substantially more effective for this specific syndrome, and vice versa.
>could there be a molecule that does the opposite?
sugar
Legalizing weed was an inside job to sell WeGovy! Kidding, but the timing is a touch funny.
> could there be a molecule that does the opposite?
Yes! It's sugar. And yes, it's highly addictive.
There are plenty of medicines that cause people to gain weight. Corticosteroids are notorious for increasing hunger leading to weight gain.