In the war against the lard, a new weapon is being investigated.

Scientists have reported plans to test out a baby food ingredient - oligo fructose, on obese human subjects.

The move follows an earlier study that showed the natural fiber seen in baby foods, cereals and yogurt had a positive effect on genetically obese lab rats.

Reportedly, oligo fructose increased the amounts of a hormone named GLP-1; glucagon like peptide that was responsible for a feeling of satiety. The fiber also had a stimulating effect on the gene that was responsible for this hormone. In retrospect the rats under observation ate less and had a better blood lipid profile.

Says Dr. Raylene Reimer of University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology who led the research "It may not be the magic bullet but in all likelihood this will likely be one factor that people can change in their life to help achieve a healthy body weight. It won't cure obesity or cause people to drop half their body weight -- not even our strongest obesity drugs can do that -- but we believe it could help."

In the human trial Reimer and team will test the effect on 50 overweight but otherwise healthy persons who will be asked to take a dietary supplement along with their diet over a three-month period.