Researchers find the key to weight loss

In the grand old New Year’s tradition, I’ve made a terribly cliché resolution to shed the extra pounds I gained over the holidays. (Dear friends and family: Thank you for all the chocolate gifts. Next year, please…don’t.)

I know I’m going to have to put in some extra time at the gym and make a conscious effort to choose healthier meals in order to get back into shape’for most people, there really is no other strategy for loosing weight and keeping it off. But oh, how I sometimes wish there were an easier way. That’s why this report from the Mayo Clinic caught my eye. It describes a study in which researchers have discovered how to thwart obesity by altering the way the body stores fat.

In the study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers found that they could cause mice to lose weight by genetically altering the mechanism that controls the energy distributed to their muscles. When this mechanism is shut off, the body burns more energy. More energy burned means less is stored as fat.

While this finding is meant to lead to a possible treatment for obese patients who aren’t able to exercise, I can’t help but wonder: If a doctor could somehow alter the way my body functions so that I could chow down on a giant Toblerone without fear of gaining weight, would I sign up? What do you think?