OBESITY ETIOLOGY AND CO-MORBIDITIES

Abstract

“My thesis examines obesity as a multifactorial chronic disease, focusing on its causes, underlying mechanisms, complications, and treatment. Obesity develops through interactions between genetic, environmental, dietary, and behavioral factors, leading to progressive dysfunction of adipose tissue. As adipocytes enlarge, they become metabolically and immunologically dysfunctional, promoting chronic inflammation, adipokine imbalance, insulin resistance, and ectopic lipid accumulation. These mechanisms form the link between obesity and major complications such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. I also examined the role of important adipokines, particularly leptin, adiponectin, and chemerin, in linking adipose tissue dysfunction with metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Finally, I reviewed obesity treatment, from lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy to bariatric surgery. Overall, the main message of my thesis is that obesity is a systemic disease, and understanding its underlying mechanisms is essential for preventing and treating its multiple complications.”