Episode 36. Why We Get Fat with Professor Joseph Proietto
Up to two thirds of Australians are either overweight or obese as defined by body mass index (overweight: BMI 25-29.9, obese: BMI >30) with subsequent significant medical consequences including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cerebrovascular disease (metabolic syndrome), osteoarthritis and depression. Becoming overweight and obese involves complex interactions between neurohormonal systems of the gut, neurobiology of the brain (particularly the hypothalamus) and leptin production from adipose sites coupled with an environment where there is an abundance of high glycaemic energy dense foods. Science demonstrates that the overarching controls of obesity are genetic (70%) rather than environmental (30%). Adoption studies relating to monozygotic twins demonstrate this. In view of the metabolic consequences of obesity, understanding why we get fat is extremely important to medical practitioners.
We are privileged to have a conversation in this podcast with Joseph Proietto, Professor Emeritus at the University of Melbourne in the Department of Medicine at Austin Health and an Endocrinologist who specialises in diabetes and obesity. Professor Proietto established the first Obesity Clinic in Victoria at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and is the head of Weight Control Clinic at Austin Health. He was the inaugural Sir Edward Dunlop medical research foundation Professor of Medicine and head of the Metabolic Disorders Research Group in the Department of Medicine, Austin Health, Joseph is on the executive of World Obesity and Chair of the Clinical Care Committee.
In this conversation he discusses:
· Why we become fat
· The role of genetic and epigenetic factors
· Some of the important hormones controlling satiety and hunger
Please enjoy this very interesting and informative conversation with Professor Joe Proietto.
Useful references include:
- www.darebinweightlosssurgery.com.au
- vermontsouthmedicalcentre.com.au
- Body Weight Regulation – Essential Knowledge to Lose Weight and Keep It Off by Joseph Proietto. ISBN 9781514497005. Published 12 August 2016, Publisher Xlibris.
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
To be a guest on the show or provide some feedback, I’d love to hear from you: manager@gihealth.com.au
Dr Luke Crantock MBBS, FRACP, is a gastroenterologist in practice for over 25 years. He is the founder of The Centre for GI Health, based in Melbourne Australia and is passionate about educating General Practitioners and patients on disease prevention and how to manage and improve their digestive health.