Name: The brain science of obesity
Uploaded: 2021-10-06T14:44:21Z
Duration: 9 min 39 s
Description: Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease influenced by genetics and the environment, he introduces a molecule discovered in both the brain and gut that helps control appetite -- and which could be engineered to promote healthy weight loss for those living with obesity.

Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease influenced by genetics and the environment, he introduces a molecule discovered in both the brain and gut that helps control appetite -- and which could be engineered to promote healthy weight loss for those living with obesity.

The brain science of obesity

Obesity is not simply a matter of willpower or lifestyle; it is shaped by genetics, environment, and complex brain-gut signaling. More than half of adults in the US now live with obesity or overweight, a trend driven by both biology and modern food abundance. Scientific evidence shows certain gene mutations can predetermine weight, and new molecules like GLP-1 help reveal how appetite is regulated deep in the brain. Understanding these roots may finally unlock lasting treatments for a global health crisis.