Obesity related insulin resistance as primary health risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are a main research focus to date. Skeletal muscle plays a dominant role in glucose control. One goal is has been to develop an exercise challenge model to exploit muscle glucose metabolism in healthy overweight/obese young people with the intent of providing an early warning system for health risk. Most recently, growing interest in the potential role of brown adipose tissue in obesity has led to current research using mild cold exposure in combination with special imaging techniques to explore a new method to examine the role of autonomic nervous system activation of brown adipose tissue in humans. In addition, using a classic autonomic nervous system challenge, the cold pressor test, helps to magnify potential cardiovascular risk associated with drinking water containing low-to-moderate levels of inorganic arsenic. This work conducted in rural Romania also has led to investigation of inter-individual differences in human inorganic arsenic metabolism with respect to patterns of retention or excretion. Collaborative work is ongoing in the area of nutrient sensing pathways: Roles of taste, digestion, and brain processing contributions to ingestive behavior.
Specialized Terms: Obesity; Insulin resistance; Exercise physiology and metabolism;Metabolic Syndrome; Autonomic Nervous System; Inorganic arsenic metabolism; Cardiovascular risk
Autonomic Nervous System; Adipose Tissue, Brown; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Insulin Resistance; Obesity; Romania; Metabolic Syndrome
Cardiovascular Diseases; Nutrition; Obesity