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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #272356
Title: The chronobiology, etiology and pathophysiology of obesity

Author
item GARAULET, MARTA - Universidad De Murcia
item ORDOVAS, JOSE M. - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MADRID, JUAN A. - Universidad De Murcia

Submitted to: International Journal of Obesity
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2010
Publication Date: 12/1/2010
Citation: Garaulet, M., Ordovas, J., Madrid, J. 2010. The chronobiology, etiology and pathophysiology of obesity. International Journal of Obesity. 34(12):1667-1683.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The effect of CD on human health is an emerging issue. Many records link CD with diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, cognitive impairment and obesity, all of them conducive to premature aging. The amount of sleep has declined by 1.5 h over the past century, accompanied by an important increase in obesity. Shift work, sleep deprivation and exposure to bright light at night increase the prevalence of adiposity. Animal models have shown that mice with Clock gene disruption are prone to developing obesity and MetS. This review summarizes the latest developments with regard to chronobiology and obesity, considering (1) how molecular clocks coordinate metabolism and the specific role of the adipocyte; (2) CD and its causes and pathological consequences; (3) the epidemiological evidence of obesity as a chronobiological illness; and (4) theories of circadian disruption and obesity. Energy intake and expenditure, relevance of sleep, fat intake from a circadian perspective and psychological and genetic aspects of obesity are examined. Finally, ideas about the use of chronobiology in the treatment of obesity are discussed. Such knowledge has the potential to become a valuable tool in the understanding of the relationship between the chronobiology, etiology and pathophysiology of obesity.