Israeli scientists say they've paved the way to turn off brain's 'hunger switch' - The Times of Israel

They say it could even be used to help people who don’t have a genetic condition that directly impacts the MC4 in their efforts to lose weight, by treating the receptor as an “override” switch.

Pharmaceutical companies have been racing to make drugs that manipulate MC4, but as they are doing so with limited knowledge of how the receptor works, drugs appear to bind with several receptors and affect other aspects of the brain and body, causing side effects.

Shalev-Benami said that the first priority is to help people with genetic conditions directly affecting  MC4 but said that advances could well help others trying to diet.

She commented: “If we can get rid of side effects and manipulate this receptor without interfering with other receptors and causing side effects this could help the general population of people struggling with weight loss.”?

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