2007年VOA标准英语-Diabetes Drug May Help Curb Binge Eating

By Melinda Smith
Washington, D.C.
12 June 2007
 

Obesity¹ is a worldwide problem.  Researchers have still not come up with the perfect diet or pill to help those who need to lose weight keep it off.  The latest drug to show some promise is a synthetic² hormone³ that helps curb⁴ the urge to eat high fat foods.  But as VOA's Melinda Smith learned, it has its own set of problems.

680 calories is almost one fifth of a pound, which is equal to 3,500 calories.

How many people have wished they had enough will power to push themselves away from the table before they eat too much? 

Actually, all humans have a natural hormone produced by cells in the pancreas, which helps make insulin.  The hormone is called amylin. It is thought to signal the brain that we are full.  Now researchers have developed a synthetic version of amylin.  It is called pramlintide.  The drug has been used to treat diabetes⁵ and control blood sugar, but its manufacturer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals⁶, hopes to develop it for obesity.

In a research study, one group of overweight people was given pramlintide.  The other group was not.  Neither group made lifestyle changes or varied⁷ their normal exercise routine.  Those who received the drug in an injection 15 minutes before a meal ate 680 calories less than those who were given a placebo⁸ shot.

At one point in the study, both groups were given what was called the "fast food challenge" - pizza, ice cream, sugary drinks.  Those on pramlintide consumed considerably⁹ less of the rich foods than the others.  They lost an average of two kilograms, compared to those on the placebo who maintained their weight.

Some health experts are skeptical¹⁰ about the benefits of pramlintide.  The study was too short, they say, and the weight loss was not enough.

Healthier food in lower portions can help people lose weight

Meanwhile, for those who lose weight the old fashioned way -- by cutting back on portions and exercising regularly -- another study contains better news.  Researchers followed 1300 Americans who lost a substantial amount of weight.  Six out of ten managed to keep the weight off at the end of one year, and almost eight percent of the group was still losing.

But the news was discouraging for those in the group who regained¹¹.  Those people needed to lose the most. 

Keeping those unwanted pounds or kilos off takes discipline. It also means maintaining an exercise schedule, choosing a diet that is convenient for you and stepping on the scale regularly to keep yourself honest.

1 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

2 synthetic   

adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品

参考例句：

• We felt the salesman's synthetic friendliness.我们感觉到那位销售员的虚情假意。
• It's a synthetic diamond.这是人造钻石。

3 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

5 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

6 pharmaceuticals   

n.医药品；药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the development of new pharmaceuticals 新药的开发
• The companies are pouring trillions of yen into biotechnology research,especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds. 这些公司将大量资金投入生物工艺学研究，尤其是药品和新种子方面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

8 placebo   

n.安慰剂；宽慰话

参考例句：

• The placebo has been found to work with a lot of different cases.人们已发现安慰剂能在很多不同的病例中发挥作用。
• The placebo effect refers to all the observable behaviors caused by placebo.安慰剂效应是指由安慰剂所引起的可观察的行为。

9 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

10 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

11 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。