Scientists in the U.S. have created an anti-obesity pill that could dramatically reduce weight in a week. Tests on mice have shown that the drug could decrease body weight by a quarter and their fat content by 42 per cent after seven days.

After a month, the weight of the mice had been reduced by 28 per cent and their fat mass by 63 per cent. The researchers say further research is needed before the drug is tested on humans. However, they say the results point to a new approach for the treatment of obesity and adult-onset diabetes.

The drug is an artificial hormone made out of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) - natural hormones that regulate glucose metabolism. These two hormones are similar in structure but they differ in their chemical structure and biological function. Previous studies have shown they can suppress appetite or cause weight loss by increasing the body''s calorie usage.

Dr Richard DiMarchi and colleagues at Indiana University in the US created the synthetic hormone and carried out the trials on mice. "Obesity and its associated consequences, including adult-onset diabetes, remain a primary health and economic threat for modern societies," the Telegraph quoted DiMarchi as saying. At the moment, surgical interventions such as gastric bypass remain the only therapeutic options with the potential for a cure.