The Obesity Epidemic

The Obesity Epidemic Health care systems around the globe are beginning to recognise the risk that obesityposes to human health and many programmes are now being put into place in aneffort to reduce the burden of obesity and its related diseases. Current definitions ofobesity are based on the ratio of bodyweight (in kg) and height squared (in m2) andexpressed as body mass index (BMI) with a normal BMI defined as 20–24.9, moderateoverweight between...

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Obesity and BBS

Obesity and BBS Obesity is a cardinal aspect of the BBS phenotype, beginning in early childhood andprogressing with age; it is usually associated with the trunk and proximal limbs. A surveyof UK BBS patients identified 72% of adults as overweight (BMI 25) and 52%defined as obese (BMI 30) . At present, the physiological and biochemical abnormalitiesunderlying obesity in BBS are poorly understood. A case-control studyshowed no significant differences...

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Genetic Obesity Syndromes

Genetic Obesity Syndromes There are numerous reports of multi-system genetic disorders with obesity. Many have a characteristic presentationand several, an overlapping phenotype indicating the likelihood of a shared common underlyingmechanism or pathway. By understanding the genetic causes and functional perturbations of such syndromeswe stand to gain tremendous insight into obesogenic pathways. In this review we focus particularlyon Bardet-Biedl...

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Energy Homeostasis and Obesity

Energy Homeostasis and Obesity The concept of the gut as an endocrine organ is hardly a new. The gut peptide secretinwas the first substance to be termed a hormone whilst the appetite inhibitory actionsof cholecystokinin (CCK) were first reported over 30 years ago. However, inrecent years, further scientific endeavour in this field has been motivated by the needto develop new strategies to tackle the global pandemic of obesity.The prevalence of...

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Gut and Hormones and Obesity

Gut and Hormones and Obesity Following the discovery of secretin in 1902, a host of further peptide hormones that are synthesisedand released from the gastrointestinal tract have been identified. While their roles in the regulationof gastrointestinal function have been known for some time, it is now evident that many of thesehormones also physiologically regulate energy balance. Our understanding of how gut hormonessignal to the brain has advanced...

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Obesity in Old Age

Obesity in Old Age Many older people in developed countries are overweight or obese. The prevalence is increasing asmore people reach old age already overweight. Obesity in old age is associated with increased morbidityand a reduction in quality of life. The relative increase in mortality is less in older than young adultsand the body weight associated with maximal survival increases with advancing age. Although intentionalweight loss by overweight...

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Causes of Obesity in Childhood

Causes of Obesity in Childhood Endocrine and single gene disorders causing obesity in childhood are rare, accountingfor 1–2% of obese children seen in a tertiary care setting. Nevertheless, an understandingof these disorders is required to recognise rare but treatable causes ofchildhood obesity. A thorough description of these conditions is beyond the scope ofthis review and can be found elsewhere.The majority of cases, however, arise from a simple...

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