Ranging from obesity to insulin, leading data and analytics company GlobalData lists the top five terms discussed in metabolic disorders in November 2019, based on data from the company’s Influencer Platform.

1. Obesity – 1,399 mentions

The emergence of obesity as an epidemic disease in the US was a top discussion point during the month. Jaime Ponce, Bariatric Surgery medical director at CHI Memorial, tweeted a video mapping the percentage of obese adults across the US between 1997 and 2017.

On 17^th November 2019, @JaimePonceMD tweeted: “Obesity is an epidemic disease… almost double the number of adults suffering obesity in many states in the last 30 years! @ASMBS @ASMBSFoundation @IfsoSecretariat @NeilFlochMD” which collected 65 likes and 35 retweets.

Surgeon and physician Neil Floch shared an infographic from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which depicted the prevalence of obesity across the various states and territories in the country. The infographic reveals that more than 20% of adults are suffering from obesity across all states and territories.

2. Diabetes – 1,166 mentions

New treatments and diagnosis methods for diabetes were some of the key topics discussed during the month. Ali Aminian, associate professor of surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, shared an article about the development of a risk calculator, which is designed to provide patients with personalised information on the risks of developing health complications over the next ten years based on the selected treatment course.

On 5^th November 2019, @Ali_Aminian_MD tweeted: “Cleveland Clinic Develops Calculator To Estimate 10-Year Risk Of #Diabetes Complications https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2019/11/05/cleveland-clinic-develops-calculator-to-estimate-10-year-risk-of-diabetes-complications/ …Details today at ‘Top 10 Papers’ session at #ASMBS2019 #OW2019”, which attracted 93 likes and 45 retweets.

Scientist and editor Atanas G. Atanasov shared an article on how researchers from East China Normal University and First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University used green tea to activate cell therapies for diabetes. The research conducted on mice and macaque monkeys showed that drinking green tea returned insulin production to normal.

3. Bariatric Surgery – 697 mentions

The need for bariatric surgery to treat obese and diabetic patients and the consequences of avoiding surgery were discussed during the month. Data shared by bariatric surgeon Neil Floch showed that 40% of patients who were denied bariatric surgery died within 12 years. The data was presented at Obesity Week 2019 conducted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in November.

On 13^th November 2019, @NeilFlochMD tweeted: “1/ The most compelling study presented at #ow2019 may NOT have had the best #medicalevidence BUT the findings in the unmatched cohort by @Trustursurgeon show that, “Denying weight loss surgery #mbs #wls is a death sentence” -at 12 years 40% of those rejected #surgery were dead…,” which gained 71 likes and 43 retweets.

Ali Aminian noted that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), a type of bariatric surgery, was a better option for diabetes patients rather than sleeve gastrectomy although the complication rate of the latter was 50% lower than the former.

4. Diet – 480 mentions

Discussions about the impact of a healthy diet on the planet, as well as the pros and cons of diets, were trending on Twitter during the month. Scientist Atanas G Atanasov shared an article highlighting a study led by the University of Oxford that showed how eating a healthy diet comprising plant-based foods will have the best effect on the environment, while a diet heavy in meat and processed food could negatively impact the climate, ecosystems and water resources.

On 1^st November 2019, @_atanas_ tweeted: “Healthy diet means a healthy planet, study shows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/28/healthy-diet-means-a-healthy-planet-study-shows …,” which saw 47 likes and 28 retweets.

Gregory Miller, chief science officer at National Dairy Council, however, showed that climate-friendly eating habits may not be affordable for all. The article is based on research conducted by Tufts University and the International Food Policy Research Institute and builds on a prior EAT-Lancet Commission study that detailed a planetary healthy diet to feed ten billion people.

5. Insulin – 110 mentions

Insulin resistance and the impact of the condition on patients were the key topics discussed on insulin during the month. Stephan Guyenet, a scientist and author, tweeted a video of a talk given by physician and scientist Stephen O’Rahilly about the mutations in the adipose tissue that led to insulin resistance and obesity.

On 19^th November 2019 @whsource tweeted: “Two really great talks on the causes of obesity and insulin resistance by Stephen O’Rahilly.
O’Rahilly’s group was the first to discover leptin deficiency in humans, demonstrating that leptin signaling regulates body fatness in humans as well as in mice.https://www.ibiology.org/human-disease/obesity/ …,” which collected 132 likes and 34 retweets.

Dr Aseem Malhotra shared an article that details how rapid weight loss and regain caused by fad dieting can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular diseases and diastolic dysfunction.