A new era in childhood obesity

Advances in our understanding of hypothalamic control of energy homeostasis have resulted in the identification of genetic forms of obesity, both syndromic and nonsyndromic, with some precision treatments now being employed. In this review article, we examine the progress being made in identifying new genes involved in the hypothalamic leptin-melanocortin system and their possible implications in obesity, as well as other potential clinical features. We include an update on clinical trials in genetic obesity with specific pharmacological treatments, such as agonists for the melanocortin 4 receptor, and for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor. The possibility of employing new precision drug targets in specific forms of obesity is modifying the approach to disease treatment in the pediatric clinic.