Obesity Management – Metabolic Pathways

Last updated: May 7, 2011 5:56 pm

PatrickDriscoll

2 Min Read

Management of obesity is far from a simple process, despite the prevailing simple notion that all that need be understood is that the condition results from consuming more calories than are expended. The number of pathways involved, both physiologic and psychologic, is extensive, variable from patient to patient and otherwise not fully understood. Attempts to intervene in these pathways and produce a long-term, sustainable outcome for the obese are challenged as a result. But the fundamental demand for clinically effective options remains undiminished.

Management of obesity is far from a simple process, despite the prevailing simple notion that all that need be understood is that the condition results from consuming more calories than are expended. The number of pathways involved, both physiologic and psychologic, is extensive, variable from patient to patient and otherwise not fully understood. Attempts to intervene in these pathways and produce a long-term, sustainable outcome for the obese are challenged as a result. But the fundamental demand for clinically effective options remains undiminished. This has driven, and will continue to drive, the development of many products in obesity and many different clinical approaches, from behavioral management, OTC treatments, ethical pharmaceuticals (and combinations), surgeries, devices and others.

Synopsizing the pathways as they are thus far understood (and elucidated in MMD report #S835), we show the main elements of the “metabolic pathways of energy homeostasis” below:

Metabolic Pathways of Energy Homeostasis

Role of the Hypothalamus and Amygdala
Role of the Stomach
Role of the Small Intestine
Role of the Pancreas
Role of Adipose Tissue as Endocrine Organ
- Brown Fat vs. White Fat
- Adipocytes and Adipokines
- Leptin
- Adiponectin
- Angiotensin II and Cardiac Remodeling
- Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1
- Interleukin-6
- Fat Distribution

For more information, see Report #S835, “Products, Technologies and Markets Worldwide for the Clinical Management of Obesity, 2011-2019.”

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By PatrickDriscoll

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I serve the interests of medical technology company decision-makers, venture-capitalists, and others with interests in medtech producing worldwide analyses of medical technology markets for my audience of mostly medical technology companies (but also rapidly growing audience of biotech, VC, and other healthcare decision-makers). I have a small staff and go to my industry insiders (or find new ones as needed) to produce detailed, reality-grounded analyses of current and potential markets and opportunities. I am principally interested in those core clinical applications served by medical devices, which are expanding to include biomaterials, drug-device hybrids and other non-device technologies either competing head-on with devices or being integrated with devices in product development. The effort and pain of making every analysis global in scope is rewarded by my audience's loyalty, since in the vast majority of cases they too have global scope in their businesses.Specialties: Business analysis through syndicated reports, and select custom engagements, on medical technology applications and markets in general/abdominal/thoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, patient monitoring/management, wound management, cell therapy, tissue engineering, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and others.