Dhaka January 17,  Dr Akhter Hossain along with his team from Melbourne’s Florey Institute and Cambridge University have recently discovered the function of a molecule – the insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) – that controls one’s appetite.

According to a report published on Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) network website, the team of scientists have discovered this molecule – found in entero-endocrine L-cells of the colon – can “control appetite.” “Peptide 5 plays a main role to determine whether the body needs food or not. The existence of the molecule was known but its purpose was still unknown,” SBS writes.

Akhter – head of the Florey’s insulin peptides laboratory – experimented by creating peptide 5 artificially and inserting that on rats.

This discovery may lead to treating anorexia and obesity.