Investigating adipose tissue angiogenesis in obesity reveals a novel role for thrombospondin-1.
View/ Open
Nelson2011.doc (51.18Mb)
Date
25/11/2011Author
Nelson, Yvonne Beverly
Metadata
Abstract
Obesity is a major health problem that has reached epidemic proportions
worldwide.Therapeutic intervention for obesity has proven extremely challenging. Obesity
is a complex trait involving the interaction of genes involved in fundamental
aspects of weight maintenance, exposure to an environment characterised by an
over-abundance of food and sedentary life-style choices with limited physical
activity (Poskitt 2009). A marked shift in diet has occurred worldwide (Popkin
2001) with greater saturated fat intake, reduced intake of complex
carbohydrates and dietary fibre, and reduced fruit and vegetable intake (WHO
2003).
In terms of pharmacological strategies, the current anti-obesity drugs on the
market are primarily concerned with reducing appetite or fat absorption in the
gut. However, serious side effects have
been documented with some of these drugs, including an increased rate of
cardiovascular events with Sibutramine use (Curfman et al., 2010). In 2007, the
Scottish Medicines Consortium removed Rimonabant from use in the NHS
Scotland due to risks of adverse psychiatric events (Burch et al., 2009).
However, despite these setbacks, there have been considerable advancements
in the treatment of obesity, achieved by combining pharmacological treatments
with diet, exercise, behavioral approaches and surgery (gastric band surgery
and liposuction). However, the prevalence of obesity continues to increase
inexorably, particularly in the Asia Pacific region (Gill 2006; Low et al., 2009),
and thus further advancements in obesity treatment are needed, ideally
avoiding invasive procedures such as surgery.