Prevention and treatment of obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
Obesity is a threat to the health of populations in most of the countries of the world, including Australia. Increasing incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in both developed and developing countries in recent decades has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide. In Australia, over 67 per cent of men aged 25 to 64 years and 52 per cent of women in the same age group are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Currently, the cost of obesity and obesity related illnesses in Australia is more than $1.2 billion a year.
A sedentary lifestyle and a diet rich in energy play important roles in the development of obesity. Dieting and exercise, although effective in the short-term, have been found to be of not much help in the prevention / treatment of obesity due to poor compliance over long-term. Also, the link between obesity and the increased disease risk is not clearly understood. There is therefore an urgent need to develop strategies to prevent / treat obesity and to reduce the risk of obesity linked diseases.
Programs available:
- Role of renin-angiotensin system in the development of obesity and insulin resistance
- Anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents as therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of obesity and insulin resistance
- Adipokines as the link between obesity and insulin resistance syndrome
Contact program supervisor for information on applying: Dr Markandeya Jois.