I just read something interesting today about weight and hormones. My mom sent me an article from a nutrition publication she receives (she is a nurse). I don't have it with me right now so I can't tell you the name of the publisher. It seems pretty legit, although it is not the New England Journal of Medicine. The article discussed studies done on mice that indicated a restricted diet increased their resistence to some types of cancer (e.g. skin cancer, some reproductive cancers). The study found that on a restricted diet the mice produced elevated amounts of DHEA (the precurser to the hormone androstendione, which is the precurser to testosterone). The study concluded that elevated levels of DHEA somehow protected the body against certain cancers. What I found very interesting was the mention that a restricted diet caused an increase in the DHEA. Not being in any way medically trained, I have no idea how to put all this together. But I wonder what it means for the connection "hunger" and increased hormone production. I have always thought of it the other way around - that the hormone replacement, if overdone, causes excess hunger. I also wonder how much of "mice" studies can be translated to people. Anyone have any thoughts? Or a medical perspective?