The Biology of Obesity

Jeffrey M. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Investigator, The Rockefeller University

In parts of the developing world, malnutrition and a lack of calories are serious health concerns. For many industrialized nations, however, a bigger problem is the consumption of too many calories. Millions of overweight individuals in the United States are at increased risk for obesity-related problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Friedman is a leading obesity researcher working to understand the genetics and biology of weight control. He suggests that the obesity epidemic in the United States is not entirely the result of a “toxic” nutritional environment full of fattening junk foods. In this 60-minute presentation, he focuses on the role of the hormone leptin in regulating fat accumulation. He also discusses his studies of a human population from the island of Kosrae, which appears to be genetically predisposed to obesity.