REGULATION OF BODY WEIGHT

Course overview

Obesity is a global health concern and can be defined by body weight, body composition, or the relationship of height to weight. Because obesity is associated with a number of acute and chronic health problems, losing a modest percentage of body weight can decrease risk for disease. Fat tissue is considered an endocrine tissue that plays a role in determining hunger and satiety, thereby contributing to weight gain and weight loss. Genetics plays a role in body fat distribution and researchers are just beginning to unravel the role of genes in body weight regulation.