In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically worldwide. In Germany, it currently affects 24 per cent of adults and represents a major challenge for the health service and wider society. The Understanding Obesity research centre consolidates interdisciplinary research conducted by physicians, biochemists and cultural studies researchers in order to better understand this modern disease and to develop treatment measures.
Outstanding Collaborative Research
As a metabolic disorder, morbid obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and some cancers. At the same time, it causes orthopaedic issues and lung problems. In addition, obesity is often associated with a poorer quality of life, unemployment, educational disadvantage and social isolation. Obesity also carries a high economic burden, for example, as a result of rising care costs and low socio-economic productivity. Germany now pays out more than 29 billion euros each year to cover the direct and indirect costs caused by obesity.
Research Centre Consolidates Interdisciplinary Research
At the Understanding Obesity research centre, researchers from a wide range of fields are investigating the causes of and ways to prevent and treat this widespread disease. The close integration of biomedical and social science research makes it possible to understand this modern disease not only in biomedical terms but also in terms of the humanities and social sciences.
Through networking several disciplines to create an integrative centre, the research centre is following the Leipzig Way, which is defined in the University Development Plan.
Biomedical Obesity Research in Leipzig
Building on strategic appointments in medicine and the life sciences, Leipzig University offers a diverse research landscape dedicated to the prevention and treatment of the disease. Obesity research in Leipzig encompasses a wide range of topics, including genetic associations, metabolic disorders, mechanisms of fat accumulation, the role of the brain in eating, and therapeutic interventions for losing and maintaining weight.
Successfully establishing biomedical centres and collaborative research projects has consolidated the clinical and academic infrastructure of obesity research in Leipzig:
- Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1052 Obesity Mechanisms
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG)
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) AdiposityDiseases
Partnership with the Humanities and Social Sciences
We have extended the spectrum by focusing on approaches used in the humanities and social sciences. Thanks to innovative networking, the Understanding Obesity research centre is able to develop effective strategies to tackle the social challenge of obesity.
The strong partnership of a sociocultural project on obesity with the Obesity Mechanisms Collaborative Research Centre and the Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) AdiposityDiseases is consolidated by the following:
- The Leipzig Lab working group Global Health, which as a synthesis centre strengthens obesity and health-related research outside the field of medicine
- The joint research project “Nutrition, Health, and Modern Society: Germany and the US”, which is supported by the Volkswagen Foundation
A Spotlight on Obesity Research at Leipzig University
Media Reports
Genes Also Play a Role: Overweight and Obesity
There are many reasons why people are overweight or obese. Too little exercise and too many calories – this is always a bad starting point. But genes also play a big role.
Report: mdr-Wissen from 3 February 2020