$6 Million Dollar Grant For Obesity Research

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Two projects from the Keck School of Medicine of University of South California National Institutes of Health for obesity research have been awarded funding to support research focused on preventing and treating obesity-related fatty liver disease in Latinos.

Michael Goran, Ph.D., professor of preventive medicine, co-director of the Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute and director of the Childhood Obesity Research Center at the Keck School, was the recipient of both grants and will be leading the research efforts.

Prior work from the Goran lab showed that early introduction of sugary beverages to Latino infants was associated with higher prevalence of obesity. Going off this information, one of Goran’s project swill examine how reducing sugary beverage consumption for post-partum Latina women may impact obesity reduction and prevent the onset of obesity development through age two for Latino kids.

“If this trial works and we can reduce obesity in women post-partum, while also preventing early onset of obesity in the offspring, then this would support the case for public health approaches to promote healthy beverage choices during the critical stages of post-partum and infancy,” Goran explained to HSCnews.

Research shows that Latino kids ages 0-5 consumption of sugary drinks is higher than the overall average and about 74% of Latinos have had a sugary beverage by age two.

Reducing sugary beverages for Latino kids, which are linked to higher risks of diabetes, obesity, cavities and liver and heart disease, could potentially help ensure a healthier future for Latino children.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing health problem for Latinos who are more vulnerable to this health risk due to a genetic factor (PNPLA3) that causes the liver to store fat. In fact, according to USC half of all Hispanics carry this gene.

NAFLD can lead to liver failure, requiring a liver transplant and is, therefore, becoming a critical health issue in LA County where it is now one of the leading causes of death in the Latino population.

Goran’s projects, both projected to decrease liver fat in obese latino children, and reduce sugar consumption in their diets, could help prove that all kids should have a right to have a healthier weight.