Two neighbouring African tribes provide an intriguing insight into diet, obesity and fat hormones.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have been studying two African groups - one eating a fish-based diet, the other a vegetarian diet. There was a striking difference between levels of the hormone leptin among the two groups.

The fish-eating group had lower leptin levels than the vegetarian group. On average, neither group was obese, but leptin is the hormone which has been shown to control satiety. People who are insensitive to this signal have higher leptin levels and tend to be both obese and at increased cardiovascular risk.

It is not clear what this study might mean for people following a Western diet or who are obese. But it may have some association with the known health benefits of including fish in your diet. Currently the American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish a week.

Source

Circulation 1st July 2002