Korean J Obes.  2006 Sep;15(3):121-128.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Link of Obesity to Chronic Diseases

• Kim DH
• Yang BS

Abstract

Obesity is increasing in industrialized countries. It seems to be more than just a burden of physical overweight since obesity is closely associated with increased incidence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and cancers. Recently World Health Organization (WHO) declared obesity as a key risk factor of health. Obesity occurs when excessive energy, resulting from an imbalance of energy's consumption and expenditure in the body, is deposited as lipid within fat cells. Extensive studies on fat cells during the past decade have elucidated its significance in immune response. Fat cells with a high level of fat deposit tend to produce a great amount of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically adipokines, causing it to function as an immune cell and participate in inflammatory reactions. Fat cell originated cytokines and its activities related to inflammatory reactions will be discussed and also the underlying molecular biological mechanisms pertaining to how obesity is directly associated with the occurrence of chronic diseases will be explained. We hope this study provides an opportunity to consider obesity more seriously and to deduce strategies in order to prevent development of obesity-related chronic diseases.

Keyword

Obesity; Chronic diseases; Adipocyte; Adipocytokine; Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes
Adipokines
Atherosclerosis
Chronic Disease*
Cytokines
Developed Countries
Health Expenditures
Hope
Hypertension
Incidence
Inflammation
Obesity*
Osteoarthritis
Overweight
Risk Factors
World Health Organization
Adipokines
Cytokines