Grant: Project Grant

The causes of obesity are complex and currently available treatments are often not effective. Why some people are more at risk than others for obesity and obesity-related diseases is not well understood. Similarly, we still do not know why some people respond better than others to treatments such as diet, exercise, medications and surgery. Our research on thousands of patients who have completed the Ottawa Hospital Weight Management program has led to an increased understanding of person-to-person variations in weight loss, and in health risks associated with obesity. We have identified processes in skeletal muscle that are important in energy metabolism (i.e., how 'calories are burned'). Processes in muscle are important because they require a significant amount of energy, even when a person is resting, and because muscle uses most of the absorbed glucose after meals. Proper glucose handling by muscles is important to prevent type 2 diabetes. Our research will build on our recent findings that 1) exercise has health benefits especially for women with obesity who lose weight very slowly on a low-calorie diet, and 2) women who lose weight quickly on a low-calorie diet seem to have a greater risk for obesity-related diseases. We will examine the molecular control of muscle metabolism in diet -resistance and -sensitivity, and the impact of exercise and bariatric surgery. We have gathered a team of clinician- and basic- research scientists who have expertise in obesity and metabolism, and who have the skills to apply cutting-edge research methods to determine how metabolic processes in skeletal muscle contribute to effectiveness of weight loss interventions (i.e., diet, exercise, and bariatric surgery), and to disease risks. Our research will lead to a greater understanding of the origins of the complex subtypes of obesity (including treatment resistance) and associated disease risks, and will lead to better, more-personalized treatments for obesity.