AGING AND OBESITY: THEIR LINKS AND LIFESTYLE STRATEGIES TO COUNTERACT THEM (invited oral communication)

AGING AND OBESITY: THEIR LINKS AND LIFESTYLE STRATEGIES TO COUNTERACT THEM Antonello Lorenzini Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Biochemistry Unit, University of Bologna, Italy Evidence from several studies have shown that increases in life expectancy are now accompanied by an increased disability rate. The expanded lifespan of the aging population is accompanied by a continuous increase in chronic diseases. Studies on animal models suggest that caloric restriction or intermittent fasting may represent a strategy to retard the aging process. On the contrary, with aging there is a trend toward increased weight both in humans and in captive animals. Additionally, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among humans is increasing at an alarming rate in many parts of the world. Further to increasing the onset of metabolic imbalances, obesity leads to reduced life span and affects cellular and molecular processes in a fashion resembling aging. We will try to answer an apparently simple question: which weight range should be considered the “healthiest” for our species? By being able to answer this question, we will contribute to the picture of what the correct lifestyle for a healthy life span is. References: Salvestrini V.; Sell C.; Lorenzini A., Obesity may accelerate the aging process, «FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY», 2019, 10, pp. 1 – 16 Antonello Lorenzini, How Much Should We Weigh for a Long and Healthy Life Span? The Need to Reconcile Caloric Restriction versus Longevity with Body Mass Index versus Mortality Data., «FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY», 2014, 5, pp. 1 - 8