The obesity epidemic affects approximately a third of all North Americans and has become a leading health concern due to its link to insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Traditionally, prevention and treatment of obesity mainly depend on caloric restriction and increasing physical activity. Although short-term weight loss can be achieved by various dietary approaches, sustainability of weight loss seems to be difficult. This book provides the evidence that dietary supplementation of leucine prevents high fat diet-induced obesity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance, and elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which dietary leucine prevents chronic metabolic disorders, suggesting that dietary supplementation of leucine may provide an adjunct in the prevention and treatment of obesity-related diseases. The book should be especially useful for obese individuals, diabetic patients, and professionals in nutrition and metabolism research.
