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The 16th international symposium in obesity—white, beige, brown: what determines the colour of adipose tissue

International Journal of Obesity Supplements volume 5, pages S1–S3 (2015)Cite this article

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According to the World Health Organization,1 the prevalence of worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980 and 1 out of 10 adults is now obese (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg m−2). The high prevalence of obesity raises concern because of the consequences that this condition has on health. Obesity, in particular in its abdominal/visceral form, is associated with costly diseases, which include type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis;2, 3 it is estimated that 44% of the type 2 diabetes burden and 23% of ischemic heart disease burden are attributable to overweight (BMI>25 kg m−2) and obesity.1 The situation is all the more preoccupying now that the prevalence of severe obesity (BMI>40 kg m−2) is rising twice as fast as the prevalence of obesity (BMI=30 kg m−2).4 Severe obesity often requires bariatric surgery.

Obesity consists of excess body fat ensuing from the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. It results from complex gene–environment interactions; our modern obesogenic environment, which promotes a sedentary lifestyle and overeating, proves to be particularly ‘obesity inducing’ in individuals genetically predisposed to positive energy balance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Laval’s Research Chair in Obesity, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada

    D Richard

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This article is published as part of a supplement sponsored by the Université Laval’s Research Chair in Obesity, in an effort to inform the public on the causes, consequences, treatments, and prevention of obesity.

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Richard, D. The 16th international symposium in obesity—white, beige, brown: what determines the colour of adipose tissue. Int J Obes Supp 5 (Suppl 1), S1–S3 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijosup.2015.1

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