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AACE 2023 Annual Meeting | May 4 - 6 | Seattle, WA Learn More
Obesity Pathophysiology
Key Points
- Obesity has a genetic basis as well as environmental and behavioral origins
- Age contributes to a shift in balance between fat and muscle mass
- Various negative feedback loops contribute to obesity
- Increased caloric intake and reduced physical activity
- Alters energy homeostasis, leading to a reduced metabolic rate
- Alters neurohormonal signals, leading to increased appetite
- Increased visceral adiposity
- Promotes insulin resistance
- Promotes inflammation
- Worsens insulin resistance
- Leads to macrophage mobilization into adipose tissue, which worsens inflammation
- Together, inflammation and insulin resistance contribute to development of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other poor outcomes
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