Obesity Innovation Lab

Why some experts think obesity may increase autoimmune risk? Obesity may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases due to metabolic overload, according to a Science perspective by Dr. Giuseppe Matarese. Obesity, influenced by high-calorie Western diets, alters the immune system's function by promoting inflammation and disrupting immune tolerance. Elevated leptin and cytokine levels in obese individuals drive abnormal immune responses, leading to a heightened risk of autoimmune conditions. Research suggests that interventions like calorie restriction and intermittent fasting may help manage the immune system's response and reduce inflammation associated with obesity-driven autoimmune disorders. #Obesity #Autoimmunity #ImmuneSystem #Inflammation #DietAndHealth #CalorieRestriction #HealthResearch Credits: Giuseppe Matarese Jason Balette Memorial Hermann Health System

Breaking the link between obesity and atrial fibrillation with a new cellular target Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a key cellular pathway linking obesity to atrial fibrillation, a heart condition affecting millions worldwide. The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that an enzyme called NOX2 drives oxidative stress in obese individuals, damaging heart cells. Blocking this enzyme in mice prevented and even reversed atrial fibrillation. The findings suggest potential for new therapies targeting NOX2 to treat and prevent atrial fibrillation in obese patients. #Obesity #AtrialFibrillation #HeartHealth #OxidativeStress #NOX2 #MedicalResearch #UIC Credits: University of Illinois Chicago Dawood Darbar

Links Between Climate Change, Obesity, and Health A recent review article by Dr. Christian Koch and colleagues from Fox Chase Cancer Center highlights the complex relationship between global warming and obesity. Rising global temperatures reduce physical activity, making it harder to burn fat, while increasing carbon footprints. Additionally, obesity raises the risk of various cancers, with factors like higher insulin levels and hormone production in fat tissue playing a role. The article emphasizes the need for healthier lifestyles and better-quality food to mitigate both health risks and environmental damage, noting that diets like the Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. #ClimateChange #Obesity #HealthImpact #Sustainability #CancerRisk #GreenhouseGas #Environmental Credits: Christian Koch Fox Chase Cancer Center

Stress Hormones Drive Obesity-Related Diabetes, Study Finds New research from Rutgers Health challenges the traditional view that obesity causes diabetes through impaired insulin signaling. Instead, the study shows that elevated stress hormones, like norepinephrine and epinephrine, counteract insulin’s effects despite insulin signaling remaining intact. The findings suggest that obesity and stress increase these hormones, driving insulin resistance and diabetes. This insight could lead to novel treatments targeting stress hormones rather than insulin signaling to manage obesity-related diabetes. #Obesity #Diabetes #StressHormones #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #MedicalResearch Credits: Rutgers Health Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

???Climate, Health, and Gender Inequality: Interconnected Challenges Demand United Solutions As COP29 Azerbaijan concludes, it’s time to address the?climate crisis,?non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and?gender inequality?together. Women in vulnerable regions face the heaviest burden—from rising temperatures and unsafe air to food insecurity and health inequities. Our latest Op-Ed, co-authored by?Anish Bari?and?Dheeraj Batra on Health Spark, explores how?climate resilience, health equity, and gender justice?must converge for a sustainable future. From empowering women as “climate-health champions” to reimagining urban spaces and improving access to nutritious food, this piece outlines actionable solutions. ???Key Insight:?Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it’s a health and equity challenge. Women must be at the center of climate action as leaders shaping resilient communities. ???Read the full Op-Ed here: https://lnkd.in/gj53xZbn Let’s transform challenges into opportunities for a healthier, equitable, and sustainable tomorrow together. Share your thoughts and ideas! #COP29 #ClimateHealth #GenderEquality #ObesityInnovationLab Obesity Innovation Lab United Nations Global Compact Nutrition International Novo Nordisk Foundation Novo Nordisk Vijay A. Raju Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation UN Women Harvard Kennedy School The Wharton School Jami Taylor, MBA, IRC Pranjal Pandey Pfizer Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. Ford Foundation Rainmatter Foundation Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation Sunil Rajshekhar United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) UNICEF Global Shapers Community Eli Lilly and Company NUHS@Home Foundation Sports Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies World Health Organization WHO Foundation

Unraveling the complex interplay between obesity and vitamin D metabolism This study highlights the relationship between obesity and vitamin D deficiency, a growing global health issue. It explores the challenges in measuring vitamin D levels in obese individuals, where excess fat alters vitamin D metabolism, leading to low levels. The study used Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) to accurately assess vitamin D metabolites in blood samples of 452 subjects, including both obese and healthy volunteers. Results showed a significant increase in vitamin D3 levels in supplemented obese subjects, although it was insufficient to reach optimal vitamin D levels. The research underscores the complexity of vitamin D metabolism in obesity and the need for tailored supplementation. #VitaminDDeficiency #ObesityResearch #UHPLCMSMS #HealthScience #Metabolomics #Obesity Credits: United Arab Emirates University Scientific Reports

Intergenerational Transmission of Obesity: New Research from Norway A recent study from Norway sheds light on how obesity may be transmitted from parents to children, particularly during midlife. The research found that children of parents with obesity in midlife are significantly more likely to experience obesity themselves, with a sixfold increased likelihood if both parents were affected. The study also highlighted a direct correlation between parents' BMI and that of their offspring. While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, both genetic and environmental factors are believed to play key roles in this generational transmission of obesity. #ObesityResearch #IntergenerationalHealth #ParentalInfluence #Genetics #ObesityPrevention #PublicHealth #Environmental Credits: UiT- The Arctic University of Norway Peter Katzmarzyk Louisiana State University The Obesity Society

Sarcopenic obesity: epidemiology, pathophysiology, cardiovascular disease, mortality, and management Sarcopenic obesity is a condition characterized by the simultaneous loss of skeletal muscle mass and excess body fat, particularly prevalent among older adults. The condition is associated with increased risks of frailty, cardiovascular disease, fractures, and higher mortality rates. Its pathogenesis involves inflammatory processes, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Managing sarcopenic obesity requires a combination of dietary interventions, resistance training, and addressing obesity, though diagnostic challenges remain due to the lack of standardized criteria. #SarcopenicObesity #Aging #MuscleLoss #Obesity #CardiovascularRisk #HealthManagement #Healthcare Credits: Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Sungkyunkwan University The University of Suwon Department of Biomedical Engineering & Science at Florida Tech GIST(Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology) Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center

Viking Therapeutics jumps as obesity updates outshine Q3 beat Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) surged 18% as Wall Street focused on updates regarding its obesity candidate VK2735. The company, which has strengthened its liquidity to $930M, is progressing towards late-stage development of VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, pending FDA feedback. Positive results from its mid-stage VENTURE trial will be presented at ObesityWeek 2024. #ObesityTreatment #GLP1Agonist #WeightLossDrug #Biotech #Pharma Credits: Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Key Insights from Simon Yeung, on Private Sector's Role and Systemic Challenges in Tackling Obesity during Obesity Innovation Lab roundtable; #CorporateResponsibility: Private companies are introducing smaller portions and healthier options, but systemic challenges like value perception and economics limit widespread impact. #ConsumerStruggles: Many consumers face challenges accessing affordable, healthy food options due to economic constraints and limited availability in grocery stores. #BroaderSystemicIssues: The cycle of corporate profits, taxation, and public health funding creates a complex feedback loop, making it difficult to drive meaningful change. #InnovationBeyondTechnology: Solutions should not only focus on technological advancements but also address policy, consumer behavior, and education, potentially through local community pilots. #ScalingChange: Small-scale interventions, tested in specific communities, can help identify replicable solutions and uncover deeper challenges in combating obesity. We would like to thank him for his thoughtful and insightful contribution, highlighting the multifaceted challenges and opportunities for innovation in obesity management. Stay tuned for more insights from this important conversation! #ObesityCrisis #HealthyChoices #PublicHealth #ConsumerBehavior #SystemicChallenges #ObesityManagement #AffordableNutrition #InnovationInHealth #CommunityPilots #ObesitySolutions Obesity Innovation Lab?Dheeraj Batra?Vijay A. Raju?Anish Bari?Pranjal Pandey