The initial discovery that ob/ob mice become obese because of a recessive mutation of the
leptin gene has been crucial to discover the melanocortin pathway to control appetite. In the …

Obesity is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries, and is also
becoming increasingly prevalent in the developing world. Although environmental factors …

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in both developed and developing countries, with
rates reaching∼ 10–35% among adults in the Euro-American region. Obesity is associated …

The molecular link between obesity and β cell failure that causes diabetes is difficult to
establish. Here we show that a conditional knockout of insulin receptor substrate 2 (Irs2) in …

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, has emerged as a critical regulator of energy
homeostasis. The leptin receptor (Lepr) is expressed in discrete regions of the brain; among …

Abstract Background Although the Fat Mass and Obesity (FTO) and Melanocortin-4
Receptor (MC4R) genes have been consistently associated with obesity risk, the association …

The melanocortins, a family of peptides produced from the post-translational processing of
pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), regulate ingestive behavior and energy expenditure. Loss of …

Diabetes mellitus is a complex disorder that arises from various causes, including
dysregulated glucose sensing and impaired insulin secretion (maturity onset diabetes of …

Recent years have seen an impetus in the study for central mechanisms regulating energy
balance, and caloric intake possibly as a response to the obesity pandemic. This renewed …

In the United States, the prevalence of pediatric overweight, defined by the Centers for
Disease Control as a body mass index (BMI) R95th percentile for age and sex, has more …