Human obesity and insulin resistance: lessons from experiments of Nature

Examination of individuals with ‘extreme phenotypes’ has revealed some rare monogenic disorders that were previously unknown. This identification can shed light on physiological pathways that are also important in normal physiology and how their impairment leads to more common, milder, multigenic forms of the disease. Ultimately, this is a potential route to treatment of both disease types. This approach is discussed in relation to Type 2 diabetes, arising from both insufficient insulin production and insulin resistance.