Obesity is one of the most common metabolic diseases in the world, becoming increasingly more common in both developed and developing countries. Its comorbidities (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, cancer) are a leading cause of premature death and a major economic burden. Despite this, our understanding of the disease and ability to treat it are limited, with few interventions available and many not effective in producing lasting results.
The failures of current obesity therapies aimed at reducing adiposity (white adipose tissue excess) via changes in life-style and diet, suggest that the disease is likely not caused uniquely by behavior (e.g. overeating) or genetic factors. Our hypothesis, supported by a growing body of evidence, is that pathological weight gain causes and is maintained by persistent changes in brain circuitry. The Furlan lab focuses on building a better understanding of body-brain neuronal circuits and the pattern of their dysregulation, providing insights that can inform novel approaches to and new treatments against obesity and the metabolic syndrome.