Targeting obesity and metabolic health: A sweet, energy-restricted, and a family-based approach

Obesity is a complex chronic disease with a globally increasing prevalence. Extensive strategies are needed to improve the health of people with obesity and reduce the global burden of obesity-related health risks. This dissertation examines various strategies to reduce obesity and improve metabolic health, including:
1. A sweet approach: using sweeteners as a replacement for sugar.
2. An energy-restricted approach: implementing a low-calorie diet for weight loss.
3. A family-based approach: investigating weight maintenance for both parents and children.
This dissertation demonstrated that weight loss improves metabolic health and family-based approaches are effective in regulating weight in children. Long-term consumption of sweeteners improves energy balance and weight regulation without affecting cardio-metabolic health. Changes in gene expression in adipose tissue and in the composition of the microbiota were also found with long-term sweetener intake, suggesting potential beneficial effects. These results contribute to valuable knowledge in the field of obesity research, metabolic health, and dietary interventions, emphasizing the potential of sweeteners to promote favorable changes in microbiota alongside weight regulation.