Living with excess body weight

Why was this the right time to organise a symposium on this topic?

Currently 38% of the global population and 64% of the UK population are living with excess body weight (overweight or obese) which is typically associated with adverse health and well-being consequences. Most of the research and policy to date has focussed on nutrition strategies to minimise weight gain and maximise weight loss and its maintenance. At a population level this has not resulted in a lower prevalence of excess body weight or its co-morbidities.

What were the aims of the symposium?

A main aim of the symposium was to consider the regulation and metabolic consequences of excess body weight, and the delivery of effective intervention which not only focus on weight regulation but importantly which mitigate the metabolic effects of excess body weight without the need for weight loss.

It brought together experts  in policy, digital health, adipose tissue physiology, exercise physiology, nutrition, clinical medicine, the microbiome, psychology and behavioural sciences and food composition databases.

As with all RANK Symposium a core aim was to get us all to think a little differently and collaborate widely to ensure that our area of interest is cognisant of, and learns from, the wider ‘landscape’.

What were some of the most exciting topics discussed

• The patient perspective: Living with excess body weight
• Obesity public health policy
• Understanding adipose tissue physiology and appetite and satiety regulation
• Intervention design and delivery, including digital approaches
• Obesity associated malnutrition throughout life: Hidden hunger
• Obesity in pregnancy
• The microbiome and weight ‘management’
• Omega-3 fatty acids, dietary patterns and fibre: role in mitigating the metabolic impact of excess body weight

Who won the prize for the best ECR presentation?

• Josh Bilson, University of Southampton, ‘Adipose tissue dysfunction and steatotic liver disease
• Daniel Gorton, University of East Anglia, ‘Investigating broccoli-derived phytochemicals in the prevention of osteoarthritis’
• Hao Jia, University of Cambridge, ‘The role of altered lipid composition during MASLD development’

Professor John Mathers (Newcastle University, Rank Prize Nutrition Committee)

Professor Anne Marie Minihane (University of East Anglia, Rank Prize Nutrition Committee)

Professor Susan Ozanne (University of Cambridge, Rank Prize Nutrition Committee)