Drug to replace obesity op

DRUGS that mirror the effects of appetite-suppressing surgery may be the ultimate solution to obesity, scientists have said.

Researchers are trying to discover how obesity surgery alters hormones in the gut to reduce hunger.

Scientists hope investigating the process will lead to the development of drugs that have the same effect as surgery.

Yesterday at the British Association Festival of Science at the University of Liverpool, Dr Carol Le Roux, of Imperial College London, said: "I'd like to think that in five to ten years surgery will be redundant."