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The endocannabinoid system and its role in energy homeostasis and abdominal obesity management

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages S1–S3 (2006)Cite this article

During the last two decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased to reach pandemic levels of prevalence. More than one billion people worldwide are now overweight and obesity leads to a marked financial burden on health care systems. Obesity provokes or aggravates several pathologies alone or in combination with other health problems. Obesity, in particular visceral obesity, is associated with development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, gallbladder disease, certain forms of cancer and respiratory diseases. According to conservative estimates, the economic costs of obesity range from 2 to 10% of total health care budgets in industrialized countries. There is a tremendous challenge to prevent obesity and to develop effective treatments.

The high prevalence of both obesity and its costly comorbidities have significantly contributed to intensify the efforts to understand obesity, which is now at the forefront of biochemical, biomolecular and neurobiological research. Indeed, in the last 20 years, research has generated many important discoveries, which include those of adipose tissue-derived hormones such as leptin and adiponectin, those of the uncoupling proteins two (UCP2) and three (UCP3) and the determination of numerous central and peripheral circuitries involved in energy balance regulation. All these important discoveries were strongly related to the study of body weight regulation, which is central to the understanding of the etiology of obesity. Although obesity research has produced significant results, there are still tremendous efforts to pursue in order to elucidate the mechanisms through which obesity leads to health complications.

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Author notes

  1. D Richard: D Richard is the recipient of the Merck Frosst/CIHR Research Chair in Obesity and Director of the Hôpital Laval Research Center.

  2. P Boisvert: P Boisvert is the symposium manager and coordinator for educational activities of the Merck Frosst/CIHR Research Chair in Obesity, Hôpital Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada G1V 4G5.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Merck Frosst/CIHR Research Chair in Obesity, Hôpital Laval Research Center, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada

    D Richard & P Boisvert

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  1. D Richard
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  2. P Boisvert
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Correspondence to D Richard.

Additional information

6th annual international symposium organized by the Merck Frosst/CIHR Research Chair in Obesity

Hilton Hotel, Québec City, Québec, Canada

20 November 2004

with the support of:sanofi-aventisCentre de Recherche sur le Métabolisme ÉnergétiqueHôpital Laval Research CenterUniversité Laval, Québec, Canada

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Richard, D., Boisvert, P. The endocannabinoid system and its role in energy homeostasis and abdominal obesity management. Int J Obes 30 (Suppl 1), S1–S3 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803269

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