NIH Holds Virtual Obesity Research Seminar, May 5

Obesity has risen to epidemic levels in the United States. People with this chronic disease often face higher health costs, more health complications and reduced life expectancy. They also are at higher risk for certain health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. To better assess the health risks for obesity, health care providers need tools beyond the commonly used body mass index (BMI). 

Join NHLBI and members of the NIH Obesity Research Task Force for a webinar, “Moving beyond BMI: Exploring the Heterogeneity of Obesity,” on Thursday, May 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. ET. Renowned extramural investigators will delve into some of the latest obesity research. They will discuss risk factors for its development and complications, its pathophysiology and response to treatment, as well as implications for implementing obesity preventions and treatments. 

NHLBI director Dr. Gary Gibbons will provide opening remarks. Speaker topics include obesity and cardiovascular disease risk; genetic subclassification of obesity and its role in precision health; the role of adipocytes and adipose tissue metabolism in heterogeneity of obesity; metabolically healthy versus unhealthy obesity; and the use of machine learning to identify intervention targets in children of immigrants and refugees who also have obesity. 

The seminar is free and open to the public. Register via Zoom to participate in the discussion or watch via NIH videocast. Learn more about the seminar, view the agenda, and see the speaker list at: https://go.usa.gov/xuruB.