Professor Giles Yeo MBE: In a post-Ozempic world, have we cured obesity?

GLP1R agonists, including semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are hugely effective in the treatment of obesity. Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, these drugs also cause dramatic weight loss. But how do they work, and are these therapeutics the long sought after solution to obesity?

Professor Giles Yeo MBE will explain the mechanisms of action of these drugs, and present some of his work on mapping where they signal to in the human brain. He will also discuss their importance as a therapeutic for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, and crucially, whether or not they are safe in the long term.

is an alumnus of Wolfson College and got his PhD in molecular genetics from the University of Cambridge in 1998, after which he joined the lab of Prof Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, working on the genetics of severe human obesity. Giles Yeo is now a Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology and programme leader at the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit in Cambridge, and his research currently focuses on the influence of genes on feeding behaviour & body-weight.

In addition, he is a fellow of Wolfson College and Honorary President of the British Dietetic Association. Giles is also a broadcaster and author, presenting science documentaries for the BBC, and hosts a podcast called ‘Dr Giles Yeo Chews The Fat’.

His first book, ‘Gene Eating’ was published in December 2018, and his second book, Why Calories Don’t Count’ came out in June 2021. Giles was appointed an MBE in the Queen’s 2020 birthday honours for services to ‘Research, Communication and Engagement’. He won the Society for Endocrinology Medal in 2022.

This event is open to all and free to attend - please register your place.

This event will take place in the Lee Hall which has step-free access and an accessible toilet.

If you have any questions, please contact our events team - [email protected]

The Wolfson Science Society is a welcoming, supportive and open community of scientists and science enthusiasts. Through their events, they aim to bring people together across disciplines, listen to amazing speakers, make connections, spark discussions, and have some fun.

Please sign up to their mailing list to keep up to date with their upcoming events.

Event Venue

Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, Barton Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App