Obesity and Overweight: Probing Causes, Consequences, and Novel Therapeutic Approaches Through the American Heart Association's Strategically Focused Research Network

Abstract

As the worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to rise, so too does the urgency to fully understand mediating mechanisms, to discover new targets for safe and effective therapeutic intervention, and to identify biomarkers to track obesity and the success of weight loss interventions. In 2016, the American Heart Association sought applications for a Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on Obesity. In 2017, 4 centers were named, including Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. These 4 centers were convened to study mechanisms and therapeutic targets in obesity, to train a talented cadre of American Heart Association SFRN‐designated fellows, and to initiate and sustain effective and enduring collaborations within the individual centers and throughout the SFRN networks. This review summarizes the central themes, major findings, successful training of highly motivated and productive fellows, and the innovative collaborations and studies forged through this SFRN on Obesity. Leveraging expertise in in vitro and cellular model assays, animal models, and humans, the work of these 4 centers has made a significant impact in the field of obesity, opening doors to important discoveries, and the identification of a future generation of obesity‐focused investigators and next‐step clinical trials. The creation of the SFRN on Obesity for these 4 centers is but the beginning of innovative science and, importantly, the birth of new collaborations and research partnerships to propel the field forward.

Cardiovascular risk stratification among individuals with obesity: The Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium

“…Although behavioral and lifestyle modifications are the foundation of obesity management, they have not demonstrated reliable or sustained large weight loss (≥ 10% of total body weight) in the majority of people with obesity [8,[26][27][28]. Moreover, the pathophysiology of obesity involves complex interactions between biological, behavioral, and environmental factors, and hence, effective treatment for obesity often requires the addition of biological-based measures, such as bariatric surgery or pharmacotherapy to lifestyle [29,30].…”

Factors affecting weight management in overweight or obese diabetic patients: the 2018-2021 Korea national health and nutrition examination survey

“…Obesity activates inflammatory cells and causes diabetes due to insulin resistance [ 4 ]. Studies from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that obesity was associated with 30%–53 percent of new diabetes cases in the United States each year [ 5 ]. Additionally, obese people are almost three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than non-obese people [ 5 ].…”

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction in obesity: a meta-analysis of speckle tracking echocardiographic studies

“…O besity is an unhealthy condition associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, and sleep disorders representing a dramatically growing burden for the healthcare system worldwide [1,2]. A large body of evidence has accumulated in recent decades on the link between obesity and increased risk of nonfatal and fatal cardiovascular events, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and stroke [3][4][5].…”