Jean-Pierre Desprès is a pioneer in the creation of screening methods for visceral obesity. Visceral fat, also known as ‘hidden’ fat, occurs when fat accumulates inside the belly, surrounding organs like the liver and intestines. Having some fat in these areas is normal, but too much can lead to visceral obesity – a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Dr. Desprès has spent over 30 years researching this area and advocating for healthier living towards diabetes prevention.

He first began studying Physical Activity Sciences during his undergraduate degree at Laval University in 1978. He continued on to complete both an MSc and PhD in the same area at Laval University, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship in Medicine at the University of Toronto. Following his training, he held a couple of roles at the Lipid Diseases Research Centre at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université Laval (CHUL) before becoming a full professor at Laval University in 1996. A leader in the field, Dr. Desprès served as the Director of Cardiology Research at the University Institute of Cardiology and Pulmonology of Quebec for almost 20 years. He also joined the International Chair in Cardiometabolic Risk (ICCR) at Laval University as the Scientific Director in 2005 and continues to hold this position. Most recently, Dr. Desprès also became the Scientific Director of VITAM at the Centre for Sustainable Health Research in Quebec.

Dr. Desprès’ research group at Laval investigates risk factors for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. The group uses cardiometabolic imaging, a non-invasive way to examine soft tissues and organs such as fat tissue, muscle, liver, pancreas and more, to study fat deposits in the abdominal region of the body. They documented and demonstrated that excess visceral fat is associated with abnormalities that could lead to disease. Dr. Desprès was the first person to propose that people with visceral obesity are at a higher risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As such, he is an advocate for healthy lifestyles and for bringing cutting-edge research to the general public. To reduce visceral fat, he encourages people to do regular endurance training to help maintain a smaller waistline, thereby reducing one’s risk of disease.

In 2018, he was awarded the $50,000 Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health by Manulife and the McGill Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics (MCCHE). With this award, Dr. Desprès hopes that there will be more conversation about these topics, bridging the gap between research findings in the lab and patient care in the clinic.

— Written by Christianna Frost