The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, mean that in the future, simple blood tests could be developed to identify people most at risk early on, helping prevent chronic illnesses and cancer through strategies like diet or lifestyle changes.

“Most people don’t think about the blood as causing obesity and related diseases, but our surprising findings highlight that there’s a causal relationship between mutations in blood stem cells and metabolic diseases,” said lead author Bowen Yan, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the UF College of Medicine.

Read more about Study Finds Hidden Blood Mutations Spark Obesity, Diabetes and Liver Disease.

A study led by a University of Florida College of Medicine researcher has found that certain genetic variations of a receptor targeted by popular weight loss drugs are associated with a higher risk of obesity for children who were also exposed to gestational diabetes in the womb.

Findings from the study, co-led by researchers at UF and the University of Colorado, could help improve obesity prediction by spotlighting a genetic variant that may interact with gestational diabetes exposure, said study author Kylie Harrall, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics.

If a child who was exposed to gestational diabetes also has one of the variations of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor, or GLP-1R gene, Harrall said, earlier weight-loss interventions might be possible.

Published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the article argues that fruits and vegetables must be treated not just as food — but as medicine.  

With 73% of U.S. adults and 35% of children classified as overweight or obese, the authors warn that the crisis is not only an individual health issue but a national economic and security threat.  

Andrew Hanson, Ph.D., a co-author and professor of horticultural sciences at UF/IFAS, emphasized a sense of urgency and collective responsibility toward solving this health crisis.  

While most victims of heatstroke seem to recover in short order, a study from University of Florida researchers reveals that a single exposure to heatstroke can lead to lasting, multi-organ damage and obesity in mice for months afterward — equivalent to many years in a human lifespan.

The new Pediatric Obesity Fellowship Training Program, launched in July 2024, is just the second pediatric obesity fellowship in the southeastern United States and is tackling a growing need for prevention and treatment as obesity rates continue to rise around the nation.

“There’s a significant need for physicians trained in pediatric obesity medicine. Pediatric Obesity is an epidemic in this country. It’s been an issue for a while, and it’s only getting worse,” said Angelina V. Bernier, M.D. ’02, medical director of UF’s metabolic and obesity clinic, pediatric medical adviser to the UF Health Bariatric Surgery Center, and fellowship program director. 

According to a new study led by University of Florida Health researcher Michelle Cardel, Ph.D., R.D., adolescent girls who play the game with the odds stacked against them may seek solace in food.

The study, published in the November 2020 issue of Obesity, explored the role of food insecurity and perceived social status — a sense of an individual’s place in the community and in American society —on eating behaviors in Hispanic teens in the U.S., who are disproportionately affected by obesity.