Lynda Williams

Obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia. An important feature in the development of these diseases is inflammation related to obesity. We are working on what causes obesity related inflammation and how this can be avoided by eating the right foods.

We are working with the food industry to make their products healthier to prevent obesity and related inflammation by using products such as whey protein.

Research Focus

Obesity causes the metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms which includes excess abdominal fat, increases in circulating glucose and lipids, insulin insensitivity and inflammation. Obesity is causally linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia.

I am interested in how a high-fat/sugar diet can cause obesity. In my lab we have shown changes in genes and proteins in the hypothalamus, the area of the brain which controls energy balance. These changes may lead to excess calorie consumption and obesity. Also measuring gene changes in the hypothalamus in response to a high-fat/sugar diet we have identified receptors which can potentially be targeted to help weight loss in obesity.

We have also identified protein changes in response to a high-fat/sugar diet in the hypothalamus and the hippocampus using proteomics. The hippocampus is the area of the brain that controls memory formation, linking diet to rapid changes in cognition and memory.

I am also interested in how dietary protein acts in the gut to release hormones which act to increase the release of insulin and limit elevations in the level of glucose in the blood.