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How Do We Get Fat?

An Epidemiological and Metabolic Approach

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The Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

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Abstract

Research over the past two decades has provided an unprecedented expansion of our knowledge about the physiological and molecular mechanisms regulating body fat. Perhaps the greatest impact has resulted from the cloning of genes corresponding to the five mouse monogenic obesity syndromes and the subsequent characterization of the human counterparts to these syndromes. Extensive molecular and reverse genetic studies (mouse knockouts) have helped establish other critical pathways regulating body fat and food intake, as well as validated or refuted the importance of previously identified pathways. In this chapter, the rapidly expanding literature is reviewed from two perspectives. The first is an epidemiological approach, considering environmental agents that affect the human being. The second views body weight regulation from a “set-point” or homeostatic approach by considering the way in which one part of the metabolic system talks to another and how this system may be “overridden” by hedonic or pleasure centers. As part of the rapid growth in the biology of obesity, there have been many new terms introduced. Because all readers may not be equally familiar with this new lexicon, a glossary of terms is included in the Appendix to this chapter.

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(2007). How Do We Get Fat?. In: The Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-431-5_2

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