Scientific Program

Organizer : Ki Woo Kim (Yonsei University, College of Dentistry, Korea)

• In this session, Dr. Elmquist, Dean of Research at UT-Southwestern Medical Center and Director of the Center for Hypothalamic Research, will introduce a new platform for identifying key factors in obesity and metabolic regulation through the hypothalamus. He will explain the identified factors and present the latest research on how these factors influence whole-body homeostasis. This presentation will provide crucial insights into the mechanisms of hypothalamic function and the regulation of obesity and metabolic disorders, greatly benefiting conference attendees.
• • References
  1. Coordination of metabolism, arousal, and reward by orexin/hypocretin neurons
  2. Leptin and brain-adipose crosstalks

Organizer : Jang Won Son (The Catholic University of Korea, Korea), Kyung Ae Lee (Jeonbuk National University, Korea)

• This insightful symposium will feature groundbreaking research on the intricate interactions between the gut microbiota, peripheral organs, and the central nervous system in the context of obesity and metabolic regulation. Prof. Chih-Yen Chen from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, will discuss on gut hormone, brain, and obesity, Prof. Teppei Fujikawa from UT Southwestern Medical Center in the USA, will present his research on decoding VMH regulation of food intake in adults, and last but not least, Prof. Ki Woo Kim from Yonsei University in Korea, will explore how a microbiota-derived short chain fatty acid targets the hypothalamus and regulates energy balance.

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Incretin-based agents are a new class of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and obesity and are considered a transformative breakthrough in the field. These novel therapeutics achieve synergistic metabolic benefits. The first such compound, reported in 2009, was based on balanced co-agonism at glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Today, several classes of gut hormone co-agonists are in development and advancing through clinical trials, including dual GLP-1-glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) co-agonists, and triple GIP-GLP-1-glucagon co-agonists. The GLP-1-GIP co-agonist tirzepatide was approved in 2022 by the US FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, providing significant weight reduction. In this Perspective, we summarize the discovery, development, mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy of the different types of incretin-based agents, and discuss potential challenges, limitations and future developments.
• • References
  1. Quast DR, Lancaster D, Xie C, Bound MJ, Grivell J, Jones KL, Horowitz M, Meier JJ, Wu T, Rayner CK, Nauck MA. Randomised comparison of intravenous and subcutaneous routes of glucagon-like peptide-1 administration for lowering plasma glucose in hyperglycaemic subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024 Sep;26(9):3897-3905.
  2. Lim S, Sohn M, Nauck MA. Cardiovascular outcome with SGLT2i and GLP1RA. Eur J Intern Med. 2024 Jun 6:S0953-6205(24)00235-8.
  3. Nauck MA, Müller TD. Incretin hormones and type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2023 Oct;66(10):1780-1795.
  4. Nauck MA, Wefers J, Meier JJ. Treatment of type 2 diabetes: challenges, hopes, and anticipated successes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021 Aug;9(8):525-544.
  5. Nauck MA, Quast DR, Meier JJ. Another milestone in the evolution of GLP-1-based diabetes therapies. Nat Med. 2021 Jun;27(6):952-953

Organizer : Jun Hwa Hong (Eulji University, Korea)

• Prof. Ania Jastreboff from Yale University, USA is director of the Yale Obesity Research Center (Y-Weight) and is trained in both adult endocrinology and pediatric endocrinology. Recently, she has served as lead author for clinical trials of tirzepatide and retatrutide. In this session, she will have a lecture for nutrients-stimulated hormone-based pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity.
• References
1. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul 21;387(3):205-216
2. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity - A Phase 2 Trial. N Engl J Med. 2023 Aug 10;389(6):514-526

Organizer : Sewon Lee (Incheon National University, Korea), Minchul Lee (CHA University, Korea)

• Symposium 6 aims to comprehensively explore the roles of exercise-induced mitochondrial controls in skeletal muscle, novel strategies in managing NAFLD focusing on muscle metabolism and exercise, and the impact of exercise intervention on sarcopenia and menopause in women. By taking a holistic approach, this symposium delves into various aspects of obesity management, examining the interplay between exercise, metabolism, and muscle health.

Organizer : Yong Hee Hong (Soonchunhyang University, Korea)

• Prof. Silva Arslanian is one of the global leaders in research on pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes. She is a pediatric endocrinologist and a scientific director of the Center for Pediatric Research in Obesity and Metabolism at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards, the latest being the 2023 American Diabetes Association Outstanding Achievement Award. In this plenary lecture, she will introduce new pharmacotherapeutic modalities for youth-onset type 2 diabetes, which has recently been on the rise globally as well as in Korea.

Organizer: Ga Eun Nam (Korea University, Korea), Ji Won Yun (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Recent studies have highlighted the associations of obesity and metabolic disorders with the increased risk of various types of cancer. Symposium 10 on ‘Obesity and Cancer’ aims to delve into the complex relationship between obesity and the risk of cancer based on research utilizing big data from both domestic and international sources. This session will feature cutting-edge research exploring how obesity and metabolic disturbances influence cancer development. Dr. Emma Fontvieille will discuss the independent and combined effects of BMI and cardiometabolic conditions on cancer risk. Professor Mai Thi Xuan Tran will examine how metabolic health, with a focus on body composition and waist circumference, affects the risk of breast cancer. Finally, professor Wonsock Kim will provide a comprehensive explanation of the relationship between lifestyles, obesity, and the occurrence of cancer. These presentations promise to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between obesity and cancer, offering insights into potential preventive and therapeutic strategies.
• • References
  1. Body mass index and cancer risk among adults with and without cardiometabolic diseases: evidence from the EPIC and UK Biobank prospective cohort studies. BMC Med 2023;21:418
  2. Mammographic breast density, body mass index and risk of breast cancer in Korean women aged 75 years and older. Int J Cancer 2022;151:869-877
  3. Association of the Interaction Between Mammographic Breast Density, Body Mass Index, and Menopausal Status With Breast Cancer Risk Among Korean Women. JAMA Netw Open 2021;4:e2139161
  4. Body Weight Variability and the Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Diabetes Care 2020;43:2234-2241
  5. Impact of waist circumference on the risk of vertebral fracture: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea. Bone 2021:145:115870

Organizer : Chang Hee Jung (University of Ulsan, Korea)

• With over 60% of older adults in the EU classified as overweight, this lecture addresses physiological changes with aging, the impact of excess visceral and muscle fat, and cardiometabolic complications. He will discuss tailored therapies, including lifestyle changes, medications, and bariatric surgery, to help practitioners effectively manage obesity and improve the quality of life in older populations.

Organizer : Ki Woo Kim (Yonsei University, College of Dentistry, Korea)

• In this session, Dr. Elmquist, Dean of Research at UT-Southwestern Medical Center and Director of the Center for Hypothalamic Research, will introduce a new platform for identifying key factors in obesity and metabolic regulation through the hypothalamus. He will explain the identified factors and present the latest research on how these factors influence whole-body homeostasis. This presentation will provide crucial insights into the mechanisms of hypothalamic function and the regulation of obesity and metabolic disorders, greatly benefiting conference attendees.
• • References
  1. Coordination of metabolism, arousal, and reward by orexin/hypocretin neurons
  2. Leptin and brain-adipose crosstalks

Organizer : Sang Youl Rhee (Kyung Hee University, Korea)

• This session will explore how digital therapeutics can contribute to treating and managing metabolic diseases. Prof. Sang Youl Rhee from Kyung Hee University will discuss the possibilities of digital therapeutics, Prof. Hyung Jin Choi from Seoul National University will delve into the psychological basis of their effectiveness, and Dr. Min Kyu Han from Kakao Healthcare will suggest ways to integrate digital therapeutics into conventional medical settings.

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Incretin-based agents are a new class of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and obesity and are considered a transformative breakthrough in the field. These novel therapeutics achieve synergistic metabolic benefits. The first such compound, reported in 2009, was based on balanced co-agonism at glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Today, several classes of gut hormone co-agonists are in development and advancing through clinical trials, including dual GLP-1-glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) co-agonists, and triple GIP-GLP-1-glucagon co-agonists. The GLP-1-GIP co-agonist tirzepatide was approved in 2022 by the US FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, providing significant weight reduction. In this Perspective, we summarize the discovery, development, mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy of the different types of incretin-based agents, and discuss potential challenges, limitations and future developments.
• • References
  1. Quast DR, Lancaster D, Xie C, Bound MJ, Grivell J, Jones KL, Horowitz M, Meier JJ, Wu T, Rayner CK, Nauck MA. Randomised comparison of intravenous and subcutaneous routes of glucagon-like peptide-1 administration for lowering plasma glucose in hyperglycaemic subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024 Sep;26(9):3897-3905.
  2. Lim S, Sohn M, Nauck MA. Cardiovascular outcome with SGLT2i and GLP1RA. Eur J Intern Med. 2024 Jun 6:S0953-6205(24)00235-8.
  3. Nauck MA, Müller TD. Incretin hormones and type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2023 Oct;66(10):1780-1795.
  4. Nauck MA, Wefers J, Meier JJ. Treatment of type 2 diabetes: challenges, hopes, and anticipated successes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021 Aug;9(8):525-544.
  5. Nauck MA, Quast DR, Meier JJ. Another milestone in the evolution of GLP-1-based diabetes therapies. Nat Med. 2021 Jun;27(6):952-953

Organizer : Jun Hwa Hong (Eulji University, Korea)

• Prof. Ania Jastreboff from Yale University, USA is director of the Yale Obesity Research Center (Y-Weight) and is trained in both adult endocrinology and pediatric endocrinology. Recently, she has served as lead author for clinical trials of tirzepatide and retatrutide. In this session, she will have a lecture for nutrients-stimulated hormone-based pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity.
• References
1. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul 21;387(3):205-216
2. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity - A Phase 2 Trial. N Engl J Med. 2023 Aug 10;389(6):514-526

Organizer : Yun-Hee Lee (Seoul National University, College of Pharmacy)

• This session brings together leading scientists to explore the complex interplay between adipose tissue biology, lipid metabolism, and metabolic diseases, offering insights into potential therapeutic strategies for obesity-related conditions. The first talk introduces the "Role of Lipid Droplets in Health and Cardiometabolic Disease”. The second presentation lipomatosis and its implications for aging and vascular health. Lastly, we will explore "The Functional Relevance of a Microbiome-Derived SCFA in Reprogramming Hepatic Lipid Metabolism”

Organizer : Yong Hee Hong (Soonchunhyang University, Korea)

• Prof. Silva Arslanian is one of the global leaders in research on pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes. She is a pediatric endocrinologist and a scientific director of the Center for Pediatric Research in Obesity and Metabolism at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards, the latest being the 2023 American Diabetes Association Outstanding Achievement Award. In this plenary lecture, she will introduce new pharmacotherapeutic modalities for youth-onset type 2 diabetes, which has recently been on the rise globally as well as in Korea.

Organizer : Jeong Hyun Lim (Seoul National University, Korea), SuJin Song (Hannam University, Korea), Oh Yoen Kim (Dong-A University, Korea), Hyunjung Lim (Kyung Hee University, Korea)

• In this session, we will discuss the effective application of digital health care and telenutrition for the prevention and management of obesity. The first speaker, Prof. Wen Peng of Qinghai University, will review relevant studies conducted in Asia, and the second speaker, Prof. Melissa Ventura Marra of West Virginia University, will introduce the effects of telenutrition based on the results of clinical studies in the United States. The last speaker, Dr. Shin Ok Park of Noom Korea, will give a lecture on the pros and cons of applying telenutrition in weight management and future prospects.
• • References
  1. Liang F, Yang X, Peng W, Zhen S, Cao W, Li Q, Xiao Z, Gong M, Wang Y, Gu D. Applications of digital health approaches for cardiometabolic diseases prevention and management in the Western Pacific region. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;43:100817
  2. Ventura Marra M, Lilly CL, Nelson KR, Woofter DR, Malone J. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Telenutrition Weight Loss Intervention in Middle-Aged and Older Men with Multiple Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):229

Organizer : Chang Hee Jung (University of Ulsan, Korea)

• With over 60% of older adults in the EU classified as overweight, this lecture addresses physiological changes with aging, the impact of excess visceral and muscle fat, and cardiometabolic complications. He will discuss tailored therapies, including lifestyle changes, medications, and bariatric surgery, to help practitioners effectively manage obesity and improve the quality of life in older populations.

Organizer : Chang Hee Jung (University of Ulsan, Republic of Korea)

• Numerous studies have been conducted on the association between the decline in muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, and cardio-metabolic diseases. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the quality of muscles, as research findings suggest that muscle quality is important in various aspects, in addition to muscle mass reduction.
• Myosteatosis, an important factor determining muscle quality, has emerged as a risk factor for new cardio-metabolic diseases beyond sarcopenia. In this session, we aim to explore the prevalence of myosteatosis and its relationship with cardio-metabolic diseases. Furthermore, we aim to investigate its significance by comparing it with the accumulation of other ectopic fats.
• • References
  1. Age-related changes in muscle quality and development of diagnostic cutoff points for myosteatosis in lumbar skeletal muscles
  measured by CT scan Clin Nutr. 2021 Jun;40(6):4022-4028.
  2. Association between sarcopenic obesity and poor muscle quality based on muscle quality map and abdominal computed tomography. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Jun;31(6):1547-1557.
  Fat Distribution Patterns and Future Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes. 2022 Sep 1;71(9):1937-1945

Organizer : Sang-Moon Han (Seoul Medical Center, Korea)

• Bariatric and metabolic surgery is the most powerful procedure for resolving obese control. Medical condition associated with obesity is changed after bariatric and metabolic surgery. Especially, Cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal motility and function, and cancer is significantly altered. Therefore, in this symposium, we will look at medical complex change after bariatric surgery.
• • References
  1. The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Mar; 14(3): e23340
  2. Alterations of digestive motility after bariatric surgery. J Visc Surg. 2022 Mar;159(1S):S28-S34
  3. Impact of bariatric surgery on cancer risk reduction. Ann Transl Med. 2020 Mar; 8(Suppl 1): S13

Organizer: Jaehyun Kim (Seoul National University, Korea), Yong Hee Hong (Soonchunhyang University, Korea)

• Pediatric obesity is a chronic disease that requires long-term management throughout life and must be managed according to the special characteristics of children and adolescents. First, we would like to find out how the prevention and management of obesity in children and adolescents is performing in Korea and how it should be managed. Next, we will figure out nutritional intervention strategies for obesity in children and adolescents and the role of nutritionists, and finally, we will look at adolescent obesity, which is difficult to manage and requires a complex approach from multiple aspects.
• • References
  1. Bensignor MO, Arslanian S, Vajravelu ME. Semaglutide for management of obesity in adolescents: efficacy, safety, and considerations for clinical practice. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2024 May 16. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000001365.
  2. Hannon TS, Arslanian SA. Obesity in Adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2023 Jul 20;389(3):251-261

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Keynote Lecture 2 at ICOMES 2024 will be delivered by Jean-Pierre Després from the VITAM – Research Centre on Sustainable Health, Canada, focusing on the critical role of lifestyle factors in cardiometabolic health. Titled "Cardiometabolic Health: Importance of Lifestyle Vital Signs," this lecture will emphasize the significance of monitoring and improving lifestyle behaviors as vital signs to prevent and manage cardiometabolic diseases. Dr. Després, a renowned expert in the field, will share insights into how sustainable health practices can profoundly impact the prevention of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Attendees can expect to gain valuable knowledge on integrating lifestyle interventions into clinical practice to enhance overall health outcomes.

Organizer: Il-Young Kim (Gachon University, Korea), Seung-Hwan Lee (The Catholic University of Korea, Korea)

• Sarcopenia is the age-associated loss of muscle mass and strength and is characterized by anabolic resistance, i.e., blunted anabolic response (muscle protein synthesis) to exercise or nutrition, which (in)directly affects other clinical conditions. To discover effective therapeutics, it is of important 1) to understand dysregulated dynamics of aging muscle proteome and 2) to acutely assess muscle mass to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic candidates, both of which were largely underappreciated over the past decades. In this symposium, these issues will be discussed by two world’s foremost authorities, Prof. Evans (for direct muscle mass) and Prof. Hellerstein (for dynamics of muscle proteome), respectively. Lastly, Prof. Kim will discuss anabolic resistance to exercise in aging muscle and the potential therapeutic effect of balanced essential amino acids.
• • References
  1. Evans WJ, Simplified definition of sarcopenia: muscle mass/body weight, The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging 2024
  2. Shankaran M et al., Circulating protein synthesis rates reveal skeletal muscle proteome dynamics, J Clin Invest 2016
  3. Jang et al., Free essential amino acid feeding improves endurance during resistance training via DRP1-dependent mitochondrial remodelling. JCSM 2024

Organizer : Jang Won Son (The Catholic University of Korea, Korea)

• The global prevalence of fatty liver disease has increased from 25.3% to 38.2% over the past three decades, with particularly high rates among young individuals and those with type 2 diabetes. Fatty liver disease significantly raises the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Obesity and fatty liver disease are closely related, as both involve excessive fat accumulation. The primary treatment for fatty liver disease is weight loss, although pharmacological options are limited and expensive. Despite its high prevalence, fatty liver disease is often overlooked in clinical practice. Therefore, it is crucial to include assessments for obesity and fatty liver disease in the care of all patients.

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Certain sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) compounds have shown not only safety, but superiority in their effects on preventing major adverse cardiovascular endpoints. Despite these advances, a comprehensive understanding of the distinct cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1RA and SGLT-2i has yet to be established. In contrast to most previous reports, we analysed and report the absolute risk reduction (ARR), which allows us to draw conclusions with more clinical consequences (e.g., numbers needed to treat). Our study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by indirectly comparing the ARR for 3P-MACE, the primary endpoint in large cardiovascular outcome trials, and for its components, between these two classes of therapeutic agents.
• • References
  1. Ahmad E*, Lim S* (co-first author), Lamptey R, Webb DR, Davies MJ. Type 2 diabetes. Lancet 2022 Nov 19;400(10365):1803-1820
  2. Neeland IJ, Lim S* (co-corresponding author), Tchernof A, Gastaldelli A, Rangaswami J, Ndumele CE, Powell-Wiley TM, Després JP* (co-corresponding author). The Metabolic Syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. [accepted]
  3. Kadowaki T, Isendahl J, Khalid U, Lee SY, Nishida T, Ogawa W, Tobe K, Yamauchi T, Lim S (corresponding author). Effect of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes, in an East Asian population. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022 Mar;10(3):193
  4. Lim S, Bae JH, Kwon HS, Nauck MA. COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: from pathophysiology to clinical management. Nature Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jan;17(1):11-30

Organizer: Il-Young Kim (Gachon University School of Medicine, Korea)

• Prof. William Evans is widely respected as the world’s foremost authority in human muscle aging research. He was the first to describe the condition called sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Muscle plays a central role in physiological metabolism beyond its role in physical function and various clinical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity. Particularly in the context of weight management, muscle plays a key role in energy metabolism as loss of muscle mass with advancing age results in a substantial decrease in basal metabolic rate. In this plenary lecture, Prof. Evans will discuss the importance of muscle mass and metabolism on energy metabolism and functional capacity. Furthermore, Prof. Evans will introduce new methods for the evaluation of muscle mass that now enable demonstration of the importance of muscle mass and its association with poor functional status, risk of disability, hip fracture, and mortality.
• • References
  1. Evans WJ, Cawthon PM. D(3)Creatine Dilution as a Direct, Non-invasive and Accurate Measurement of Muscle Mass for Aging Research. Calcif Tissue Int. 2023
  2. Cawthon PM, Blackwell T, Cummings SR, et al. Muscle mass assessed by D3-Creatine dilution method and incident self-reported disability and mortality in a prospective observational study of community dwelling ol0der men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020
  3. Orwoll ES, Peters KE, Hellerstein M, Cummings SR, Evans WJ, Cawthon PM. The Importance of Muscle Versus Fat Mass in Sarcopenic Obesity: A Re-evaluation Using D3-Creatine Muscle Mass Versus DXA Lean Mass Measurements. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Keynote Lecture 3 at ICOMES 2024 will be presented by Michael D. Jensen from the Mayo College of Medicine, USA, focusing on the intricacies of human adipose tissue metabolism and its alterations in obesity. Titled "Human Adipose Tissue Metabolism: What Happens with Obesity," this lecture will delve into the metabolic changes that occur within adipose tissue as obesity develops, highlighting the implications for overall health. Jensen, a leading authority in the field, will provide insights into how these metabolic shifts contribute to obesity-related complications, offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving this global health issue. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on the potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of obesity on adipose tissue function.
• • References
  1. Nielsen S, Jensen MD. Insulin regulation of regional lipolysis in upper-body obese and lean humans. JCI Insight. 2024 Apr 11;9(9):e175629
  2. Zhang L, Vella A, Nair KS, Jensen MD. Characteristics of Normal Weight Insulin-Resistant Adults with Unfavorable Health Outcomes. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2024 Jan 16
  3. Lytle KA, Chung JO, Bush NC, Triay JM, Jensen MD. Ceramide concentrations in liver, plasma, and very low-density lipoproteins of humans with severe obesity. Lipids. 2023 May;58(3):107-115
  4. 4. Palmer AK, Jensen MD. Metabolic changes in aging humans: current evidence and therapeutic strategies. J Clin Invest. 2022 Aug 15;132(16):e158451
  5. Espinosa De Ycaza AE, Søndergaard E, Morgan-Bathke M, Lytle K, Delivanis DA, Ramos P, Carranza Leon BG, Jensen MD. Adipose Tissue Inflammation Is Not Related to Adipose Insulin Resistance in Humans. Diabetes. 2022 Mar 1;71(3):381
  6. Song Y, Jensen MD. Red blood cell triglycerides-a unique pool that incorporates plasma-free fatty acids and relates to metabolic health. J Lipid Res. 2021;62:100131

Organizer : Hyung Jin Choi (Seoul National University, Korea)

• The brainstem and hypothalamus intricately orchestrate physiological processes, including appetite regulation and body weight maintenance, by modulating the hunger and satiety. Prof. Jo-Eun Son will elucidate the hypothalamus's mechanism in the genetic determinants of human obesity, Prof. Chen Ran will reveal on the neural encoding of internal senses within the brainstem, and Prof. Zhan Cheng will discuss the function of brainstem catecholaminergic neurons in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
• • References
  1. 2021 Nature Metabolism. Irx3 and Irx5 in Ins2-Cre+ cells regulate hypothalamic postnatal neurogenesis and leptin response
  2021 Science Advances. Ectopic expression of Irx3 and Irx5 in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus contributes to defects in Sim1 haploinsufficiency
  2. 2022 Nature. A brainstem map for visceral sensations
  3. 2024 Nature Neuroscience. Fasting-activated ventrolateral medulla neurons regulate T cell homing and suppress autoimmune disease in mice
  2023 Cell Reports. AgRP neurons are not indispensable for body weight maintenance in adult mice

Organizer : Jun Hwa Hong (Eulji University, Korea)

• Dr. Garvey from University of Alabama at Birmingham has achieved international recognition for his research in the metabolic, molecular, and genetic pathogenesis of insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and obesity. He has investigated the beneficial effect of semaglutide and tirzepatide in clinical researches. In this session, he will introduce the Current and Future Second-Generation Medications for Adiposity-Based Chronic Disease, based on a nutrient regulated hormone.
• • References
  1. Two-year effect of semaglutide 2.4 mg on control of eating in adults with overweight/obesity: STEP 5. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Mar;31(3):703-715
  2. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022 Jan 11;327(2):138-150

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Keynote Lecture 2 at ICOMES 2024 will be delivered by Jean-Pierre Després from the VITAM – Research Centre on Sustainable Health, Canada, focusing on the critical role of lifestyle factors in cardiometabolic health. Titled "Cardiometabolic Health: Importance of Lifestyle Vital Signs," this lecture will emphasize the significance of monitoring and improving lifestyle behaviors as vital signs to prevent and manage cardiometabolic diseases. Dr. Després, a renowned expert in the field, will share insights into how sustainable health practices can profoundly impact the prevention of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Attendees can expect to gain valuable knowledge on integrating lifestyle interventions into clinical practice to enhance overall health outcomes.

Organizer: Hyunjung Lim (Kyung Hee University), Sujin Song (Hannam University), Oh Yoen Kim (Dong-A University)

• Obesity is no longer an individual or family problem but is recognized as a disease that society must solve together. It is also pointed out as a cause of socially enormous economic loss and class polarization. This session introduces community-based nutrition interventions and approaches for obesity management in vulnerable groups. The first speaker Dr. Shirley Y. Chao from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in the USA will lecture on ‘Integrating Frailty and Malnutrition Screening into Community Care for Older Adults and Their Caregivers.' The second speaker Professor Seung Eun Jung from the University of Alabama in the USA will introduce 'Community-based Strategies to Decrease Health Disparities and Improve Nutritional Status for US Low-income Population.' Lastly, Professor Minsun Jeon of Chungnam National University in the Republic of Korea lectures on 'Nutrition Management Strategies for the Elderly and the Disabled in Social Welfare Facilities' and discusses obesity management in vulnerable groups in this session.
• • References
  1. Chao S, Corish CA, Keller H, Rasmussen H, Arensberg MB, Dwyer JT.
  Are you prepared for the decade of healthy aging 2020-2030? A panel summary from the academy of nutrition and dietetics 2020 food & nutrition conference & expo virtual event, Nutrition Today 56(4):183-192, 2021.
  2. Jung SE, Shin YH, Kim H, Hermann J, Bice C. Identifying Underlying Beliefs About Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Low-Income Older Adults: An Elicitation Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, J Nutr Educ Behav. 49(9):717-723, 2017
  3. Han S, Jeon M Development and Application of Nutrition Education Program for the Elderly in Low Income Korean Journal of Human Ecology. 28(2):171-183, 2019.

Organizer : Jang Won Son (The Catholic University of Korea, Korea)

• The global prevalence of fatty liver disease has increased from 25.3% to 38.2% over the past three decades, with particularly high rates among young individuals and those with type 2 diabetes. Fatty liver disease significantly raises the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Obesity and fatty liver disease are closely related, as both involve excessive fat accumulation. The primary treatment for fatty liver disease is weight loss, although pharmacological options are limited and expensive. Despite its high prevalence, fatty liver disease is often overlooked in clinical practice. Therefore, it is crucial to include assessments for obesity and fatty liver disease in the care of all patients.

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Certain sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) compounds have shown not only safety, but superiority in their effects on preventing major adverse cardiovascular endpoints. Despite these advances, a comprehensive understanding of the distinct cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1RA and SGLT-2i has yet to be established. In contrast to most previous reports, we analysed and report the absolute risk reduction (ARR), which allows us to draw conclusions with more clinical consequences (e.g., numbers needed to treat). Our study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by indirectly comparing the ARR for 3P-MACE, the primary endpoint in large cardiovascular outcome trials, and for its components, between these two classes of therapeutic agents.
• • References
  1. Ahmad E*, Lim S* (co-first author), Lamptey R, Webb DR, Davies MJ. Type 2 diabetes. Lancet 2022 Nov 19;400(10365):1803-1820
  2. Neeland IJ, Lim S* (co-corresponding author), Tchernof A, Gastaldelli A, Rangaswami J, Ndumele CE, Powell-Wiley TM, Després JP* (co-corresponding author). The Metabolic Syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. [accepted]
  3. Kadowaki T, Isendahl J, Khalid U, Lee SY, Nishida T, Ogawa W, Tobe K, Yamauchi T, Lim S (corresponding author). Effect of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes, in an East Asian population. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022 Mar;10(3):193
  4. Lim S, Bae JH, Kwon HS, Nauck MA. COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: from pathophysiology to clinical management. Nature Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jan;17(1):11-30

Organizer: Il-Young Kim (Gachon University School of Medicine, Korea)

• Prof. William Evans is widely respected as the world’s foremost authority in human muscle aging research. He was the first to describe the condition called sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Muscle plays a central role in physiological metabolism beyond its role in physical function and various clinical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity. Particularly in the context of weight management, muscle plays a key role in energy metabolism as loss of muscle mass with advancing age results in a substantial decrease in basal metabolic rate. In this plenary lecture, Prof. Evans will discuss the importance of muscle mass and metabolism on energy metabolism and functional capacity. Furthermore, Prof. Evans will introduce new methods for the evaluation of muscle mass that now enable demonstration of the importance of muscle mass and its association with poor functional status, risk of disability, hip fracture, and mortality.
• • References
  1. Evans WJ, Cawthon PM. D(3)Creatine Dilution as a Direct, Non-invasive and Accurate Measurement of Muscle Mass for Aging Research. Calcif Tissue Int. 2023
  2. Cawthon PM, Blackwell T, Cummings SR, et al. Muscle mass assessed by D3-Creatine dilution method and incident self-reported disability and mortality in a prospective observational study of community dwelling ol0der men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020
  3. Orwoll ES, Peters KE, Hellerstein M, Cummings SR, Evans WJ, Cawthon PM. The Importance of Muscle Versus Fat Mass in Sarcopenic Obesity: A Re-evaluation Using D3-Creatine Muscle Mass Versus DXA Lean Mass Measurements. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020

Organizer : Soo Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)

• Keynote Lecture 3 at ICOMES 2024 will be presented by Michael D. Jensen from the Mayo College of Medicine, USA, focusing on the intricacies of human adipose tissue metabolism and its alterations in obesity. Titled "Human Adipose Tissue Metabolism: What Happens with Obesity," this lecture will delve into the metabolic changes that occur within adipose tissue as obesity develops, highlighting the implications for overall health. Jensen, a leading authority in the field, will provide insights into how these metabolic shifts contribute to obesity-related complications, offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving this global health issue. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on the potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of obesity on adipose tissue function.
• • References
  1. Nielsen S, Jensen MD. Insulin regulation of regional lipolysis in upper-body obese and lean humans. JCI Insight. 2024 Apr 11;9(9):e175629
  2. Zhang L, Vella A, Nair KS, Jensen MD. Characteristics of Normal Weight Insulin-Resistant Adults with Unfavorable Health Outcomes. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2024 Jan 16
  3. Lytle KA, Chung JO, Bush NC, Triay JM, Jensen MD. Ceramide concentrations in liver, plasma, and very low-density lipoproteins of humans with severe obesity. Lipids. 2023 May;58(3):107-115
  4. 4. Palmer AK, Jensen MD. Metabolic changes in aging humans: current evidence and therapeutic strategies. J Clin Invest. 2022 Aug 15;132(16):e158451
  5. Espinosa De Ycaza AE, Søndergaard E, Morgan-Bathke M, Lytle K, Delivanis DA, Ramos P, Carranza Leon BG, Jensen MD. Adipose Tissue Inflammation Is Not Related to Adipose Insulin Resistance in Humans. Diabetes. 2022 Mar 1;71(3):381
  6. Song Y, Jensen MD. Red blood cell triglycerides-a unique pool that incorporates plasma-free fatty acids and relates to metabolic health. J Lipid Res. 2021;62:100131

Organizer : Jaehyun Kim (Seoul National University, Korea), Yong Hee Hong (Soonchunhyang University, Korea)

• In childhood and adolescent obesity, individual and family factors, lifestyle habits, as well as the given environment and school play an important role. This session will examine the status, necessity, and effectiveness of physical activity in schools, and explore strategies for managing obesity in children and adolescents in terms of social work, such as vulnerable groups and health inequalities. Lastly, in a situation where exposure to various social media is rapidly increasing in Korea, we will examine obesity management and education using social media that was studied among American college students, and examine its effectiveness and applicability. It is hoped that this session will provide an expanded perspective and insight into childhood and adolescent obesity.
• • References
  1. Exploring Service Use Disparities among Suicidal Black Youth in a Suicide Prevention Care Coordination Intervention. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023;10(5):2231-2243
  2. Examining the effectiveness of a family-focused training to prevent youth suicide. Family Relations, 2023;72(1), 325–346
  3. Examining College Students’ Willingness to Consume Local Foods Utilizing the Health Belief Model with the Addition of Social Influence and Self-identity. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. 2023;18(5): 736-752
  4. A Multi Theory-Based Investigation of College Students' Underlying Beliefs About Local Food Consumption. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2020 Oct;52(10):907-917

Organizer : Jun Hwa Hong (Eulji University, Korea)

• Dr. Garvey from University of Alabama at Birmingham has achieved international recognition for his research in the metabolic, molecular, and genetic pathogenesis of insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and obesity. He has investigated the beneficial effect of semaglutide and tirzepatide in clinical researches. In this session, he will introduce the Current and Future Second-Generation Medications for Adiposity-Based Chronic Disease, based on a nutrient regulated hormone.
• • References
  1. Two-year effect of semaglutide 2.4 mg on control of eating in adults with overweight/obesity: STEP 5. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Mar;31(3):703-715
  2. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022 Jan 11;327(2):138-150

Organizer : Sewon Lee (Incheon National University, Korea), Minchul Lee (CHA University, Korea)

• In this session, we will cover various aspects of the effects of exercise on cardiovascular and metabolic functions, as well as prevention and management strategies, focusing on the latest research results and clinical cases. The first speaker, Professor Oh Sung Kwon, discussed the impact of progressive dynamic resistance training on skeletal muscle and vascular function in older adults, the second speaker, Professor Jaehoon Seol, discussed the effect of physical activity on sleep in middle-aged and older individuals, and finally, Dr. Min-Hwa Suk will give a lecture on movement function improvement exercise algorithm for obese individuals.
• • References
  1. Aging and Endothelium-mediated Vascular Dysfunction: The Role of the NADPH Oxidases
  2. Bidirectional associations between physical activity and sleep in older adults: a multilevel analysis using polysomnography
  3. The association between motor capacity and motor performance in school-aged children with cerebral palsy: An observational study