Washington DC, Dec. 19 -- Researchers have identified a previously overlooked protein that helps regulate appetite and energy use in the body.

This "helper" protein supports a key system that decides whether the body burns energy or stores it, and when it does not function properly, appetite signals can weaken.

New research suggests that a protein the body relies on to manage appetite and energy levels cannot function on its own. Instead, it depends on a partner protein to work properly.

This discovery could help scientists better understand how genetic factors contribute to obesity.

In a study published in Science Signalling on December 16, an international research team led by scientists at the University of Birmingham examined how ...