The top 25 papers in obesity research run the gamut from in vitro studies in adipose tissue to in vivo genetic studies in the mouse to clinical trials in human subjects. The majority of studies were undertaken in an attempt to discern the mechanisms for food intake and energy expenditure, and the crucial points in this process that might trigger obesity. Manipulation of the obese gene in mice has been shown to affect body weight, fat deposition, endocrine function, and, in one study, sterility. Other factors thought to influence obesity that have been explored in vivo include plasma levels of the OB protein, as well as the roles of neuropeptide Y and the melanocortin-4 receptor. The link between obesity and insulin resistance has been explored in humans; insulin resistance is suspected to touch on many health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, and dislipidemia. The physiologic action of leptin in humans, the use of troglitazone in clinical trials, and the prevalence of obesity in different population groups, such as children and adolescents, are also examined in the top 25 papers.
Methodology
To construct this database,
papers were extracted based on title- and author-supplied keywords for
obesity. The keywords used were as follows: obese, obesity, body-mass, body-mass-index, eating disorder, eating disorders, weight-gain, overweight, weight-loss, binge eating, body mass, body mass index, body mass index BMI, body-mass index, eating disorder, eating disorders, morbid obesity, overeating, overweight, weight gain, weight gains, weight-loss.
The baseline time span for this
database is 1991-2000. The resulting database contained 19,961
papers; 42,084 authors; 134 countries; 2,045 journals; and 7,483
institutions.
Rankings
Once the database was in place,
it was used to generate the lists of top 25 papers, authors, journals,
institutions, and nations, covering a time span of 1991-2000.
The top 25 papers are ranked
according to total cites. Rankings for author, journal, institution,
and country are listed in three ways: according to total papers, total
cites, and total cites/paper.
