Metabolic phenotypes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and vascular function in lean and obese metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals.
IRAS ID
166975
Contact name
Daniel Cuthbertson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Obesity is associated with many health complications such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease and stroke. However, not all obese individuals are at the same risk of these complications. Likewise, not all normal weight people are protected from these complications. It has been suggested that although some individuals may be obese they are still metabolically healthy, classed as ‘metabolically healthy obese’ (MHO) and ultimately do not have the same increased risk for the development of health complications as their ‘metabolically unhealthy obese’ (MUO) counterparts. It has been proposed that a difference in where fat is stored within the body rather than the overall amount is a more accurate predicator of metabolic health. The current study will examine the differences in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and vascular function in metabolically healthy and unhealthy lean and obese individuals. Ultimately, we aim to understand how these systems may be dysregulated and the contribution of this, rather than overall body fat, in determining the metabolic health status of an individual.
Summary of Results
: The results are currently being analysed. The study was terminated prematurely due to COVID in early 2020. At the point of resumption of clinical research in mid 2021, the research and academic priority of the PhD student and research team was to complete the larger research studies associated with more funding or forming part of the student's main PhD thesis to ensure these were completed. The loss of 18 months of research activity has forced strategic decisions and research priorities to be realigned so that the PhD-based and large funded studies could be completed.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0550
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion