Abstract
The increasing worldwide burden of obesity and its associated pathologies has led to it being described as a global pandemic. 1 Despite it association with serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, age-related dementia, osteoporosis, some cancers, and more, it has never received the urgent attention of rapidly spreading infectious diseases. This lack of attention is perhaps due to obesity often being viewed as a behavioral problem and not as a disease. Thus far, public health initiatives have been unable to reverse the increasing burden of obesity in any population, 2 which exemplifies the urgent need for better public health strategies for preventing obesity and for more effective treatments of obesity.
We are honored that our call for papers has received intense and eager interest for this special issue of Journal of Medicinal Food focused on obesity. The finalized articles included in this special issue can be a reliable source of information for renewing and expanding the body of knowledge about obesity, and for fostering translational research from basic mechanistic studies to randomized clinical trials demonstrating novel effects of bioactive food constituents on obesity and related metabolic diseases. The manuscripts include research from both academic and industry organizations. The Asian manuscripts focus heavily on the use of botanicals with medicinal properties, which is reflective of the traditional use of such plant materials for improving human health over many millennia.
While much of the research is preliminary in nature and requires additional research before it is widely applied in human interventions, all of the research presented in this issue of the Journal expands the knowledge base of nutrition science and brings us closer to solving one of the most recalcitrant health challenges of our generation.
Featured articles to highlight from this issue include: 6-Acetyl-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one isolated from Artemisia princeps suppresses adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal cells via activation of AMPK Eriocitrin improves adiposity and related metabolic disorders in high-fat diet-induced obese mice Efficacy and safety of Sinetrol-XPur on weight and body fat reduction in overweight or obese adults: A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial