Obesity Animations
Obesity: Animations (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
From the 2004 Holiday Lectures — Science of Fat
Body Mass Index (BMI) (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
Comparison of the change in BMI for a given height and varying weights.
Leptin Feedback Control System (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
Demonstrates how changes in the amount of fat tissue lead to changes in leptin levels and thus changes in appetite.
Location of the Hypothalamus (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
A 3-D animation that shows the location of the hypothalamus in a mouse's brain.
Leptin Neuronal Rewiring (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
Illustrates how providing leptin to an obese mouse rapidly rewires its hypothalamus neurons.
The Fate of Fat (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
An overview of how dietary fat gets digested, packaged, and sent to various tissues for storage or energy.
There is no way to directly measure how much fat a living person has. Learn about the various methods used by researchers and fitness advisors to estimate a person’s body fat. Also featured on the HHMI DVD Science of Fat, available free from HHMI. Order DVDs here.
Fat is tissue, a type of cell, and a substance. Learn about the chemical and molecular structure of fat and how it relates health. A Flash slide show that delves into the various molecular shapes that fat can take. Also featured on the HHMI DVD, Science of Fat, available free from HHMI. Order DVDs here.
A Flash slide show that delves into the various molecular shapes that fat can take. From the DVD of the 2004 Holiday Lectures on Science, Science of Fat, available free from HHMI. Order DVDs here.
Obesity-Related Health Problems (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
A timeline illustrating the gradual effects of obesity on the body, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and heart attack.
How a Heart Attack Occurs (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
A 3-D animation that shows how plaques form in a blood vessel, leading to blockage and a heart attack.
PPAR-gamma Activation in the Fat Cell (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
The PPAR-gamma receptor activates certain genes in a fat cell, resulting in the storage of fat and changes in hormone levels.
PPAR-delta Activation in the Muscle Cell (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
The PPAR-delta receptor activates certain genes in a muscle cell, resulting in the burning of fat.