Volume II of the Frontiers in Endocrinology research topic “Obesogens in the XXI century: emerging health challenges” edited by CHRC researcher is now accepting submissions
After the success of the 1st Volume of the Research Topic “Obesogens in the XXI century: emerging health challenges”, the editors were invited to launch a second volume of this collection. The first volume gathered reviews and research papers from top specialists in the obesogen and obesity field, including a review from the “father” of the obesogen theory.
Given that obesity and metabolic disorders are an important research topics amongst CHRC researchers, the editors would be delighted to have submissions from Portugal and in particular CHRC members.
The editorial for the first volume can be read here and submission details for the second volume can be found here.
Summary:
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Its prevalence is increasing exponentially, and obesity has become a major public health concern being considered by the World Health Organization as one of the most critical public health challenges in the 21st century. Understanding the causes that lead to obesity and the prevention of obesity not only in adults, but also in children and adolescents, is a public health priority. This is particularly relevant since overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age.
The exposure to certain environmental contaminants has been suggested to contribute to the obesity epidemics. These chemicals known as obesogens can interfere with hormones involved in regulating metabolism and weight gain. Humans are continuously exposed to obesogens across the life course and this exposure is likely to contribute substantially to disease and dysfunction with costs in the hundreds of billions of Euros per year. Thus, assessing exposure to these chemicals and their implications in human health across life span is key to develop a strategy to reduce exposure and improve health. Furthermore, the molecular understanding of obesogens' toxic-induced mechanisms is a crucial starting point for developing a strategy to provide better diagnosis platforms, treatments, and management of the adverse effects of obesogens.
This Research Topic aims to cover all aspects of obesogen field from exposome to the effects in model organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates) and humans. We bring together cutting-edge data from the molecular basis to the clinical perspective, such as mechanisms, associated diseases, public health data, and recent breakthroughs.
Ana Catarina Sousa, Professor at University of Évora (Department of Biology) and CHRC researcher, serves as topic editor of this Special Issue of Frontiers in Endocrinology Journal, together with colleagues from the National Institute of Environmental Studies, (NIES), Japan; University of Antwerp, Belgium; and Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, Portugal.