A ball python. Photos by Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder CU Boulder researchers have discovered an appetite-suppressing compound in python blood that helps the snakes consume enormous meals and go months without eating yet remain metabolically healthy. The research, a collaboration with scientists at Stanford Medicine and Baylor universities, could inform new weight loss therapies that promote satiety without the nausea and muscle loss that can come with existing drugs. Professor Leslie leinwand, left, and PhD candidate Skip Maas […]

Further experiments determined that pTOS is a byproduct of the breakdown of tyrosine — an amino acid present in dietary protein — by bacteria in the gut. Treating the pythons with antibiotics prior to feeding abolished the eating-associated increase in pTOS levels. “We were able to work out a pathway in which pTOS is produced after a meal through the metabolism of tyrosine in the gut and the liver,” Long said. “We also found that it then […]

The past decade has seen a meteoric rise in the popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the GLP-1RA liraglutide in 2014 to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D), followed by the approval of semaglutide in 2021 to manage individuals with obesity or overweight with at least 1 weight-related comorbidity.1 Around 1 million new individuals began using GLP-1s in the US between 2011 and […]

Federal regulators on Wednesday approved Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss pill, a second daily oral medication to treat obesity and other weight-related conditions. The Food and Drug Administration granted expedited approval to orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug that works like widely used injectable medications to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness. The drug, which will be branded as Foundayo, is expected to begin shipping Monday. The company said people with insurance may be able […]

Study reveals weight loss may not prevent type 2 diabetes Weight loss is considered an important factor in maintaining overall health and reducing the risk of several diseases.  However, a new study suggests that losing weight alone may not be enough to prevent type 2 diabetes in some high-risk individuals. Even after losing about 8% of their body weight and keeping it off for years, people in a high-risk category known as cluster 5 continued to experience […]

Intermittent fasting continues to be a popular approach to weight loss and overall health. But does it work, and is it good for your heart?  While the jury is still out as to whether it can shed pounds faster than traditional dieting, some studies point to potentially significant heart benefits by lowering rates of heart failure and contributing to a longer life span. “Unfortunately, research studies on intermittent fasting have been limited, making it difficult to determine […]

By A.J. Hostetler A new analysis of a large international clinical trial finds semaglutide, a compound found in weight loss medications Wegovy and Ozempic, reduces major heart events and lowers fatty liver disease risk in adults with both obesity and heart disease.  People with obesity face a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Many also have fatty liver disease that can lead to liver scarring. A common liver disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), affects […]

By: Monica Smith | April 21, 2026 | 11 min. read |  Share Summary Sylvester is launching a 12-week lifestyle medicine program to support safe weight loss for cancer survivors. Cancer survivors receive personalized exercise, nutrition and metabolic assessments. Multidisciplinary experts lead the program through the Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute. Cancer treatment can leave the body feeling out of sync, as if its “notes” have changed, its tempo has shifted and familiar cues no longer land where […]

UNC research advises physicians carefully evaluate how much muscle composition patients lose while taking popular drugs for weight loss. Credit: charliepix A new UNC School of Medicine study of incretin-based medications, including newer medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide that are widely prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and obesity, are associated with high rates of muscle loss relative to the amount of weight lost. John A. Batsis, MD, an expert on obesity and nutrition at the UNC […]