title: Obesity: an epidemic in need of therapeutics.
abstract: Recent developments in the quest for control of human obesity include the discovery of hormones, neuropeptides, receptors and transcription factors involved in feeding behavior, metabolic rate and adipocyte development. As a result, obesity research is quickly developing a level of sophistication that is expected to yield new treatment approaches. Even though newly approved clinical interventions are being tested in the market place, the obesity epidemic continues to face numerous unmet clinical needs and awaits the development and implementation of safe and highly effective pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obesity Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, USA. lex_van_der_ploeg@merck.com
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Van der Ploeg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents