Over the past few months, I've posted numerous articles on the effect the hormone leptin has on your body's ability to burn or store fat. Penn State University scientists have identified another hormone –- cholecystokinin (CCK) -- that may affect obesity too.

Secreted by the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fat and protein, CCK also tells the body when to stop eating. Scientists injected two sets of rats, after being fed a high-fat diet and other a low-fat regimen for three weeks, with CCK, then given high-fat food.

Rats on a low-fat diet stopped eating the fat-filled food soon after their CCK injection, but not so for the high-fat group, leading researchers to believe eating high-fat foods consistently can erode CCK signals that tell your body to stop eating.

The best way to help your body function as God intended:

• Modifying your diet based on your body's unique nutritional type.
• Reduce, with the plan of eliminating, your intake of grains and sugars.
• Start an exercise program today.
• Deal about the emotional roadblocks that led you to this juncture in your life by learning an effective energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique.

Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 135, August 2005: 1953-1959

Yahoo News August 8, 2005