Welsh researchers to study how fat causes diabetes and heart disease

Fri, 30 Oct 2009
A research team in Wales will study the role that fat plays in the development of diabetes and heart disease . The conclusions will be drawn from a three year study that examines samples of fat from obese people and their lean peers.

The impact of obesity in Wales is causing particular concern, with recent figures showing that the country has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity throughout the world. The figures, from Diabetes UK Cymru, showed that the number of people with diabetes diagnosed in Wales shot up by 7,000 last year.

Dr. Jeffrey Stephens, who will act as supervisor, reportedly said: "We’ll be examining fat from people who are lean, obese or are obese and have type 2 diabetes . To start with we will look to identify which proteins and genes linked with diabetes and heart disease are activated in fat from these people. Our aim is to get a better understanding of why too much fat in the body goes on to cause diabetes and heart disease. This might lead to newer treatments to prevent and treat these common conditions."

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