ABSTRACT
The only species that develop natural and spontaneous obesity that is very similar to that of humans are nonhuman primates (NHPs). None, including humans, allows for long-term highly consistent dietary and environmental conditions ideal for the prospective longitudinal study of the processes underlying the development of obesity, as is provided by NHPs. In addition, no other population provides the ability to study the natural development of the complications of obesity and its many sequelae, most importantly type 2 diabetes mellitus, and all aspects of cardiovascular disease, including metabolic syndrome. Finally, no other species allows for the close examination of the mechanisms underlying obesity; its prevalent health problems; and the testing of new ideas, methods, molecules, and therapeutics aimed at slowing or halting the global epidemic of obesity.
