The fat around people's midriffs may increase their appetites, causing them to eat more and subsequently increasing the amount of belly fat, it has been claimed.
According to researchers from the Lawson Health Research Institute, in the United States, abdominal fat tissue reproduces a hormone that stimulates appetites and fat cell production.
It is hoped that the discovery will lead to new methods of treatment for people suffering from abdominal obesity.
Dr Yaiping Yang, lead researcher, explained that the hormone Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is produced by abdominal fat tissue, as well as the brain.
"This may lead to a vicious cycle where NPY produced in the brain causes you to eat more and therefore gain more fat around your middle, and then that fat produces more NYP hormone which leads to even more fat cells," he suggested.
According to researchers from Texas, calorie restriction inhibits the growth of pancreatic and other cancers, while consuming an obesity-inducing diet can speed up the development of epithelial cancers and cause the growth of larger lesions.
The fat around people's midriffs may increase their appetites, causing them to eat more and subsequently increasing the amount of belly fat, it has been claimed.
