The Lighter Side of Space:
Melt Away Pounds in Microgravity

By Tina Beychok

Scientists have discovered a guaranteed new way to lose weight quickly—go on a spaceflight!

It should come as no surprise that between the excitement of launches, a spacewalk or two, and the occasional bout of motion sickness, astronauts may well lose weight during flight. However, new research using rats has uncovered a possible biochemical mechanism for this weight loss. This research is based on earlier studies of rats flown aboard the Shuttle.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, examined the feeding patterns of rats placed in gentle (2g) centrifuges. The rats ate less than what was needed to maintain their body mass—much as astronauts do during spaceflight. It was found that the level of leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite, was altered with the changes in gravity. Even though by the end of eight weeks the rats living at 2g were eating the same amount as their normal, 1g counterparts, they never regained the fat lost at the beginning of the study.

Researchers hope that by understanding how leptin works in microgravity, they may eventually be able to compensate and help astronauts regain lost body mass.

More info available at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/27aug_fatrat.htm.

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