Diabetes and obesity: new data on mechanisms and intervention trials.

The increase in obesity and Type 2 diabetes on a global scale has heightened interest in how to counteract this epidemic. Improved lifestyle is a fundamental approach but other remedies, such as drugs and surgery, have also been tested. One question requiring further research is what happens after weight loss. Ongoing studies will try to address this question, including the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study, and the Look Action for HEAlth in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) trial in the USA, the latter looking at obese Type 2 diabetes patients.