Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site shark.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!tektronix!orca!shark!hutch From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: weight loss Message-ID: <718@shark.UUCP> Date: Thu, 26-Apr-84 10:33:05 EDT Article-I.D.: shark.718 Posted: Thu Apr 26 10:33:05 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 30-Apr-84 05:29:46 EDT References: <867@brl-vgr.ARPA> Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 69 | Isn't the obvious answer some drug, process, or technique that will | KILL these dreaded "fat cells" once and for all? If they have such | different behavior than the lean muscle/tissue cells, it shouldn't | be that hard to find some agent that acts against them alone. Sure it would. How hard is it to find an agent that acts against cancer cells alone? Besides, those agents which DO affect fat cells have significant effects on the rest of the body, especially the liver and digestive tract. One agent which DOES affect fat cells significantly is STH, human Somatotropic Hormone. STH is a powerful steroid drug, and costs a small fortune. Besides, it isn't safe to use very much, even though those bodybuilders who can get it will happily use it. STH causes several things to happen. First, it stimulates growth and reproduction of cells. The levels of STH are at their highest during puberty when the body is going through massive growth and change. It also causes fat to be mobilized from fat cells and burned as fuel, assuming the body actually needs the fuel (i.e. isn't being stuffed full of glucose-type fuels). This is why growing kids can often eat like pigs and still not get terrifically obese. The body drops levels of STH as soon as it determines that it is done growing, around the age of 22 or 23. Inactivity then, combined with the habits of eating a lot, causes FAT to accumulate, then dieting makes the situation MUCH worse. There is a method for increasing STH secretion. It works for kids who want to gain weight for athletics as well. First, a program of weight training and aerobic exercise needs to be established. Then, supplementing a sensible diet (recommended is a ratio of 2:1:3 where 2 units of protein, one of fat, and three of carbohydrate are consumed as approximately four meals in a day) supplemented with free-form amino acids in the proportions used by the body. This can get costly, by the way. Wieder sells the stuff for an outrageous price, but still cheaper than steroids. In addition, it is suggested that you take about 250 mg of a mix of Arginine, Ornithine, and possibly Tryptophane in free form just before bedtime. This provides a large amount of the aminos which the pituitary uses to construct STH, at the time when it wants to secrete the largest amounts (~2hr after going to sleep). These amino acids, in free-form, have been shown to stimulate STH production significantly. Avoid combining Lysine with them at the same time, since it works synergistically with Arginine to SUPPRESS this action. Anyway, this is all from memory, and the research into this area is still pretty recent. Exercise and a moderate diet are still the best (read, ONLY) way to get rid of fat without losing the required lean body weight at the same time. STH merely HELPS the process. | I'm surprised this hasn't been done by now. It certainly would | be a way for some researcher, lab, or company to make so much money | that they couldn't find ways to throw it away -- a real weight-loss | drug would sell unbelievably well! Hey, millions are spent every year trying to find the causes and potential cures for obesity! The problems are just not that simple. Oh. By the way, avoid the products being sold via television as "wonder amino fat loss" pills which "melt away fat while you sleep". These are Choline, which is another amino acid that does help in the metabolism of fat. However, the pills are OFTEN NOT free-form Choline and therefore it is not really available to the body in the right form. Secondly, in large amounts Choline has undesirable side effects. It can even cause toxic reactions. It mucks up the liver, I think. Hutch