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IASO media release - Embargo 0000 hours, September 4 2006

Obesity must be top priority for research

Research into obesity should be given top priority to have any hope of combating the global pandemic, according to the new leader of the obesity research community, Professor Arne Astrup.

Prof Astrup, who becomes president of the International Association for the Study of Obesity at its 10th International Congress on Obesity in Sydney launched on Sunday September 3, said both public and private sectors needed to provide much more backing for research.

"The more we learn about obesity, the more complex it comes. People often talk rather simplistically about the balance of energy in and energy out, but don't ask why so many people no longer seem to be able to maintain this balance in a modern society. We need to develop a much more sophisticated understanding of the biological mechanisms which interact with the environmental influences that lead to weight gain and obesity.

"We need research into the origins of obesity, but we also need more research into what we can do in practice to prevent overweight and obesity. We must also acknowledge that we have such rapidly growing problem, with 1.5 billion people worldwide already overweight, that we must to do much more to research to find the best therapeutic approaches. New research suggests that factors such as too little sleep or trans fat from fast food can alter our biology, and make us more susceptible to overeat and be less active.

"Millions of obese people suffer discrimination, are stigmatised and their needs are neglected. They not only miss out on many opportunities in life, often are denied access to medical services. A growing proportion of morbidly obese people are at the extreme end of the spectrum, but are stigmatised and ignored."

Prof Astrup is director of the Department of Human Nutrition at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Frederiksberg, Denmark. His main areas of interest include the physiology and pathophysiology of energy and substrate metabolism, with a special emphasis on the etiology and treatment of obesity. He is also editor in chief of IASO's quarterly scientific journal, Obesity Reviews.

The International Association for the Study of Obesity has a membership of almost 10,000 professionals involved in scientific and clinical research, medical treatment and public health in 55 countries. It registered as a charity in England with its headquarters in London.

ends

For further information please contact:

Neville Rigby
Director of Policy and Public Affairs
International Association for the Study of Obesity
231 North Gower Street, London NW1 2NR
tel: +44(0) 2076911902 ¦  fax: +44 (0) 8707051233 ¦  mobile: +44 (0) 7939250347
email: nrigby@iaso.org
url:  www.iaso.org / www.iotf.org / www.preventionalliance.net

To speak online (when available):
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IASO Registered Charity Number: 1076981

Brief biographical details:

Professor Arne Vernon Astrup, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci.

Degree in medicine from University of Copenhagen in 1981, and Doctorate in Medical Science in 1986. Awarded Professorship in 1990 and currently Head of The Department of Human Nutrition at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark. Main areas of interest include physiology and pathophysiology of energy and substrate metabolism, etiology and treatment of obesity. Research collaborations include participation in 7 major EU multicenter studies: EUROSTARCH, CARMEN, NUGENOB, DIABESITY, DIOGENES, EMOB, and HEALTHGRAIN. Over 360 original publications in international peer reviewed journals, and over 600 other publications. He is Editor-in-Chief of the IASO journal Obesity Reviews. He received the IASO André Mayer Award, the Mölyncke Quality of Life Award, and was made 2002 Danone Chair in Nutrition at The University of Antwerp in recognition of his scientific achievements. He became a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog in 1999.

Prof Arne Astrup contact details:

Mobile: +45 21433302

Email: ast@kvl.dk