Obesity and Diabetes: Molecular Diagnosis and Prevention
Obesity has become a global epidemic. It predisposes for many diseases including type II diabetes, coronary vascular diseases, and hypertension. Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that characterized by excessive fat mass and elevated blood lipid concentration. The rate of childhood overweight in developing countries has been increased more than 30% than that of the well-developed countries. In the physical year 2014, among1.9 billion overweight adults, 600 million were obese. About 13% of the world’s adult populations are obese and 39% are overweight. Obesity is often associated with many diseases and at least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. These health problems put more burden on the local and world economy.In Saudi Arabia, obesity prevalence was 31% among people with average age of 35.8 between 1993 and 2002. In 2005, the prevalence has increased to 36.9% with more prevalence in males (42.4%) than females (31.8%). About 30% of the Saudi population is diabetic or prediabetic. Obesity and diabetes are treated pharmacologically, through lifestyle interventions or surgically (Obesity). As the pharmaceutical treatment is often associated with undesired side effects, it is recommended that a natural dietary intervention could be the safest and most cost-effective option for those who are moderately obese and diabetic. Molecular causes and diagnosis of obesity and diabetes (genetic and biochemical) has not been well investigated. Therefore, the scope of our team is disclosing their molecular diagnosis and biodiversity as well as using natural products (plant and animal) for the protection of them. This will not only contribute in alleviating obesity and diabetes and their health and economic impacts in Saudi Arabia but worldwide as well.
Vision:
Towards a less obese society
Mission:
Utilization of various genetic, biochemical, and molecular approaches to disclose the molecular mechanisms underlying the causes of obesity, diabetes, and their biodiversity. Also, the group will search for finding novel molecular tools for the protection from obesity and diabetes and their associated health disorders.
Objectives:
- Studying the molecular causes of obesity and diabetes and their biodiversity.
- Early molecular diagnosis of obesity and diabetes.
- The use of natural products for protection from obesity and diabetes in individuals with high risk factor, such as honey bee and plant products.
- Serving local community by delivering lectures and seminars as well as providing consultations in areas related to group activities
Expected Results
1. Detection of molecular changes as a result of Obesity and Diabetes.
2. Effectiveness of natural products for protection of Obesity and Diabetes.
3. Protection of deleterious molecular effects of Obesity and Diabetes through blood glucose level and its cellular sensitivity.
4. Determination of obesity and Diabetes related gene expression.
5. Detection of molecular markers related to Obesity and Diabetes.
6. Determination of harmful effects of Obesity and Diabetes of fertility at the molecular level.
Research team members:
- Dr. Mohamed E.E.Alkafafy : Principal investigator
- Dr. Saqer S. H.Alotaibi: co-investigator
- Dr. Samir A. M.ElShazly: co-investigator
- Dr. Ahmed M Elshehawi: co-investigator
- Dr. Samy M. H.Sayed: co-investigator