Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin, a 167 aminoacid protein product of the ob gene, is an adipocyte-derived hormone that acts as a major regulator for food intake and energy homeostasis. Leptin is expressed mainly in white adipose tissue, but also in stomach and placenta. Leptin circulates in the serum in a free form or bound to leptin-binding proteins. Since its discovery, our understanding of leptin’s biological functions has expanded from antiobesity to broad effects on reproduction, hemat...

Ghrelin is the brain-gut peptide with growth hormone (GH)- releasing and appetite-inducing activities. Reviewed experimental evidence confirms the role of endogenous ghrelin in regulating GH secretion while studies in humans still fail to pinpoint the exact role of ghrelin in GH secretion. Accumulating evidence supports that ghrelin/GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) axis contributes to the maintenance of body weight. Evidence suggest the role of environmental factors modulating...

Insulin resistance, which can be defined as a state of reduced responsiveness to normal circulating levels of insulin, plays a major role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Whilst standard definitions of insulin resistance still define it in terms of insulin’s effects on glucose metabolism, the last decade has seen a shift from the traditional ‘glucocentric’ view of diabetes to an increasingly acknowledged ‘lipocentric’ viewpoint. This hypothesis h...

Bjorntorp first coined the term ‘metabolic syndrome’ (MS) in the 1980’s to describe the association between obesity, regional fat distribution, disease endpoints and their risk factors (cardiovascular disease, premature death, stroke, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and female carcinomas). This description also recognised the potential contribution from adreno-cortical activity and stress. Since that time a plethora of research has highlighted the causat...

Introduction: Weight gain and obesity promote metabolic syndrome, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors. Weight loss achieved by lifestyle change can limit progression of cardiovascular risk factors. What is the current approach to obesity in general practice and can a nurse- led programme result in clinically beneficial weight change?Methods: The Counterweight Programme has developed a model of best practice for obesity management in UK primary...