Obesity Research

In addition to enabling us to treat many cats and dogs that are overweight, the clinic will allow us to compile a large amount of information about the obesity problem in pets.

In time, this information will be used to improve understanding of the causes of obesity in pets, and will enable us to refine methods of treatment and prevention. When sufficient cases have been recruited, we will also be able to establish whether certain breeds are more prone to obesity because of their genetic links.

Finally, we will be able to look at the link between obesity and the diseases which it causes. By understanding how such diseases arise, we will be in a better position to recommend appropriate treatment and prevention strategies.

Research output

Publications to date

1. Dietary Energy Restriction and Successful Weight Loss in Obese Client-Owned Dogs

   Alexander J. German, Shelley L. Holden, Thomas Bissot, Rachel M. Hackett, and Vincent Biourge Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2007;21:1174–1180
   
   

2. A High-Protein, High-Fiber Diet Designed for Weight Loss Improves Satiety in Dogs

   Mickaël Weber, Thomas Bissot, Eric Servet, Renaud Sergheraert, Vincent Biourge, and Alexander J. German Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2007;21:1174–1180
   
   

3. A simple reliable tool for owners to assess the body condition of their dog or cat.
   German, A.J., Holden, S.L., Moxham, G.L., Holmes, K.L., Hackett, R.M., Rawlings, J. (2006).   Journal of Nutrition 136; 2031S-2033S.
   
   
4. Standardised positioning is essential for precise determination of body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
   Raffan, E., Holden, S.L., Cullingham, F., Hackett, R., Rawlings, J., German A.J. (2006)   Journal of Nutrition 136; 1976S-1978S.
   
   
5. The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats.
   German, A.J. (2006)   Journal of Nutrition 136; 1940S-1946S.
   
   
6. Expression in Dog Adipose Tissues and Dog White Adipocytes Differentiated in Primary Culture
   Eisele, I., Wood, I.S., German, A.J., Hunter, L., Trayhurn, P. (2005) Adipokine Gene . Hormone and Metabolic Research 37; 1-8.

Conference contributions

• Weber, M., Bissot T., Servet, E., Sergheraert, R., Biourge V. German, A.J. (2007) A high protein, high fiber diet designed for weight loss improves satiety in dogs.  Proceedings of the 2007 European Congress of Veterinary Internal Medicine; Budapest, Hungary; September 2007. 
  
  
• German, AJ, Holden, SL, Bissot, T, Servet E, Sergheraert, R, Hackett, RM, Rawlings, JM, Biourge, V Marked energy restriction is required to induce successful weight loss in client-owned dogs.  50th British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, UK; April 2007.
  
  
• VH Ryan, AJ German, IS Wood, L Hunter, RM Hackett, JM Rawlings, P Trayhurn (2007) Development Expression of inflammation-related adipokines by canine adipocytes differentiated in primary cell culture: response to TNF-α.  50th British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, UK; April 2007.  *** Winner of the award for the best medicine abstract at Congress ***
  
  
• German, A.J., Raffan, E., Holden, S.L., Cullingham, F., Hackett, R.M., Rawlings, J.M. (2006) Validation of the precision of regional body composition measurements using a fan-beam Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorption (DXA) scanner.  49th British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, UK; April 2006 p511
  
  
• VH Ryan, AJ German, IS Wood, L Hunter, RM Hackett, JM Rawlings, P Trayhurn (2006) Development of a primary cell culture system for canine adipocytes.  49th British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, UK; April 2006, p508.
  
  
• German, A.J., Raffan, E., Holden, S.L., Cullingham, F., Hackett, R.M., Rawlings, J.M. (2006) Validation of the precision of regional body composition measurements using a fan-beam Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorption (DXA) scanner.  49th British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, UK; April 2006 p511
  
  
• German A.J., Holden, S.L. (2006) Subjective estimation of body condition can predict body fat mass as well as condition scoring with an established 9-point scale.  49th British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, UK; April 2006, p508.
  
  
• Raffan, E., Holden, S.L., Cullingham, F., Hackett, R., Rawlings, J., German A.J. (2005) Standardised positioning is essential for precise determination of body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.  Waltham International Sciences Symposium, Washington, USA; September 2005.
  
  
• German, A.J., Holden, S.L., Moxham, G.L., Holmes, K.L., Hackett, R.M., Rawlings, J. (2005).  A simple reliable tool for owners to assess the body condition of their dog or cat.  Waltham International Sciences Symposium, Washington, USA; September 2005.
  
  
• Eisele, I., Wood, I.S., German, A.J., Hunter, L., Trayhurn, P. (2004) Expression of adipokine genes in canine white adipose tissue.  Proceedings of the 2004 European Congress of Veterinary Internal Medicine; Barcelona, Spain; September 2004.  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. ; 18: 790.
  
  
• Eisele, I., Wood, I.S., German, A.J., Hunter, L., Trayhurn, P. (2004) Expression of adipokine genes in dog white adipose tissue.  Proceedings of the 13th European Congress on Obesity.2004.  Prague, Czech Republic; May 2004.  International Journal of Obesity 28; S93.

 

Liverpool Obesity Research Nework (LORN)

The Weight management Clinic is part of LORN, a research network of six obesity units and research laboratories based across the University of Liverpool, Aintree University Hospital and Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital Trusts. In addition to research activity, LORN has a seminar programme and helps to organise regional and national meetings on obesity.

 

For full details please visit: www.liverpool.ac.uk/obesity/