If you've already weakened your resolve to lose any weight you gained over Christmas, you may be wondering whether taking a slimming product might give you the extra help you need. So you may be delighted to hear that yet another weight-loss drug is in development - and the test results so far are promising.
The new ZGN-433 drug means you don't have to diet to lose weight. Photo: Stock.xchng, Christy Thompson
The drug - which for the moment is going by the name of ZGN-433 - could potentially help obese people lose 20 - 40% of their entire body weight over a nine-month period. And that's without them having to change their diet or do any extra exercise.
Interested? We thought you would be. The drug is made by a US pharmaceutical company called Zafgen. Initial trials involved 24 obese women who took ZGN-433 over a four-week period and lost 2lb a week as a result. Not just that, but the women said they felt less hungry while they were taking it too.
The drug works by changing the way the body metabolises fat. And research suggests fat metabolism is different in people who are overweight compared to those who aren't. Some researchers believe that once you gain too much weight, your body reprogrammes itself to store even more fat - which might explain why it can be so difficult to shift it.
Don't get too excited though. A second round of clinical trials is about to begin, which means ZGN-433 could be years before the drug is available. Let's hope they come up with a snappier name by then.
Have you tried any slimming products that have worked?