Obesity research highlights need for biomarkers to personalize treatment

At the 67th Congress of the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN), researchers emphasized that obesity is a complex and heterogeneous disease requiring more personalized medical approaches. Patricia Yárnoz Esquíroz, an endocrinology and nutrition researcher from the University of Navarra, noted that while obesity prevalence in Spain is approximately 14.9%, with overweight affecting 36.3%, current medicine lacks the biomarkers necessary to measure fat distribution and functionality effectively.

Scientific discussions also highlighted the role of adipose tissue as an active endocrine organ. This tissue integrates endocrine signals that regulate sugar and fat metabolism, adapting to hunger, stress, and energy excess. White adipose tissue (TAB) acts as the body's largest endocrine organ, producing adipokines that can trigger chronic inflammation and cardiometabolic complications if dysfunctional. In contrast, brown adipose tissue (TAP) functions primarily to dissipate energy as heat, a role most prominent in newborns.