An alternative approach is to modify food to help people get slim. Olestra is a fat that cannot be absorbed. However, it causes diarrhoea, and inhibits the absorption of nutrients. Researchers are also developing food that naturally suppresses appetite by filling us up. Insoluble fibre cannot be absorbed, while soluble fat reduces appetite by controlling blood sugar levels.
Carbohydrates are also natural appetite suppressors.
They are bulky and cause the release hormones that make us feel full. Meat protein contains amino acids that suppress appetite. The next big step is to change what happens to food once it has been eaten. Food supplements have been developed that reduce fat deposition and promote muscle growth. Developments in food technology may work, but they are new and unproven.