Introduction to "The intestinal wall - THE regulatory interface in energy homeostasis"

New revelations that have revitalized obesity-related research using a peripheral approach prompted us to organize a workshop titled "The intestinal wall - THE regulatory interface in energy homeostasis," which was held June 20-25, 2010, in Ascona, Switzerland, at the Centro Stefano Franscini of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Throughout an exciting week of seminars and discussions, the workshop brought together around 70 expert researchers and clinicians from around the world who attempted to evaluate and integrate many important aspects of the role of the digestive tract in the regulation of energy homeostasis at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels, as well as the implications for the prevention or treatment of obesity.