research , core topic understanding obesity and transforming its treatment

On World Obesity Day, scientists from the Institute of Nutrition and Health (INS) at the University of Navarra present their main lines of research on a portal research emphasize that understanding the mechanisms underlying this disease is core topic advancing toward more precise and personalized treatments.

Many of the researchers belong to research center in network Physiopathology network Obesity and Nutrition network (CIBEROBN) and the Navarra research Institute (Idisna). They also work in partnership other scientific networks of excellence and associations such as the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO), among others, which facilitates the transfer of laboratory findings laboratory internship .

project : Silent inflammation and new therapeutic targets

One of the INS's priority areas of research is into what is known as "chronic silent inflammation," a persistent process that does not cause immediate pain but progressively damages organs such as the liver, pancreas, and cardiovascular system. To address this problem, the project is researching the molecule Maresin 1, derived from omega-3 fatty acids, which acts as a natural mediator in resolving inflammation. The goal to understand why this system loses its effectiveness in obesity and aging, and how it can be restored to prevent diseases such as fatty liver or certain types of cancer. "Obesity does not only involve excess fat; it alters the body's ability to resolve inflammation," explains María Jesús Moreno-Aliaga, a researcher at research center the School Pharmacy and Nutrition.

Metabolism, aging, and cancer: new therapeutic approaches to obesity

Another line of research on understanding how aging modifies metabolism. The metabolic slowdown associated with age can accentuate the alterations characteristic of obesity. In this context, the project on the MMP14/GDF15 axis analyzes how certain proteins can act as biological "brakes" that hinder the regulation of energy balance, a phenomenon that can be accentuated with age. Identifying these mechanisms would allow the development of therapies targeted at people with obesity, improving their metabolic response and reducing the risk of subject diabetes or associated liver disease.

At the same time, researchers are studying the relationship between obesity and cancer, a connection that is increasingly supported by scientific evidence. The project is analyzing the role of the GLUT12 protein as entrance route into breast cancer tumor cells in obese patients. In an environment of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, this protein can promote tumor growth. "Blocking this 'energy gateway' could open up new therapeutic strategies specifically targeting women with obesity, integrating oncology and metabolism into a single scientific approach," says Pilar Lostao, a researcher research center .

The INS also investigates sarcopenic obesity, a condition in which excess fat is compounded by loss of muscle mass, increasing frailty and the risk of complications. "Muscle is the engine that financial aid glucose and inflammation. Maintaining strength is a clinical priority beyond weight loss," says Amaia Rodríguez, a researcher in department Endocrinology and Nutrition at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra.

In parallel, the PARABIOTICS-2 essay explores the potential of postbiotics (inactive bacterial components) as a more stable and safer alternative to traditional probiotics for improving body composition, insulin resistance, and liver health.

In addition, the INS covers programs of study on prevention, analyzing the impact of the environment and habits on childhood obesity and developing personalized interventions, including dietary strategies, to prevent excess weight.