Both obesity and overweight are increasing worldwide and have detrimental influences on several human body functions including the reproductive health. In particular, obese women undergo perturbations of the ‘hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis’, and frequently suffer of menstrual dysfunction leading to anovulation and infertility. Besides the hormone disorders and subfertility that are common in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in obesity the adipocytes act as endocrine organ. The adipose tissue indeed, releases a number of bioactive molecules, namely adipokines, that variably interact with multiple molecular pathways of insulin resistance, inflammation, hypertension, cardiovascular risk, coagulation, and oocyte differentiation and maturation. Moreover, endometrial implantation and other reproductive functions are affected in obese women with complications including delayed conceptions, increased miscarriage rate, reduced outcomes in assisted conception treatments.On the contrary, weight loss programs through lifestyle modification in obese women, have been proven to restore menstrual cyclicity and ovulation and improve the likelihood of conception.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA), an early marker of asymptomatic atherosclerosis, is signi®cantly and independently associated with plasma concentrations of leptin, an adipose tissue hormone that has recently been proposed as a cardiovascular risk factor in obese patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional sample of normal-weight and obese men and women. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and twenty healthy subjects (52 men and 68 women), aged 18 ± 45 y and with a wide range of BMI, were recruited for the study. MEASUREMENTS: Fasting plasma leptin concentrations and the IMT of the CCA were measured in all subjects. Leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and the IMT of the CCA was quanti®ed by high resolution B-mode ultrasound imaging. Central fat (measured by waist circumference), smoking habits, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity (measured by the insulin tolerance test), and fasting plasma glucose, insulin and lipid pattern (cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol) were also measured. RESULTS: IMT of the CCA was positively correlated with log leptin concentrations (P`0.005 in men and P`0.001 in women), body mass index (P`0.001 in men and women), waist circumference (P`0.001 in men and women), age (P`0.001 in men and P`0.05 in women), and negatively associated with insulin sensitivity in both sexes (P`0.05). IMT was also directly correlated with cholesterol (P`0.05), LDL-cholesterol (P`0.01) and systolic blood pressure in men (P`0.05), and with diastolic blood pressure levels in women (P`0.05). When a multiple linear regression model was used without body mass index (BMI), the correlation between leptin and IMT was maintained in both men (P`0.01) and women (P`0.005), independent of age, insulin sensitivity, smoking habits, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. By contrast, BMI-adjusted leptin concentrations were not signi®cantly associated with IMT (Pc (partial correlation): 0.41 in men and 0.15 in women). Moreover, when BMI was entered into a multiple linear regression model without leptin, the correlation between BMI and IMT was maintained in both men (P`0.005) and women (P`0.01), independent of the same parameters. CONCLUSION: Plasma leptin concentrations are independently associated with the IMT of the CCA, suggesting that the increase of adipose tissue mass (or leptin per se) may have an unfavourable in¯uence on the development of atherosclerosis. However, the association between IMT and leptin seems to be dependent andaor confounded by the relationship between IMT and obesity.

These data demonstrate significant changes in body composition and fat distribution in independently living, weight-stable elderly men and women. These changes are dependent on sex and independent of physical activity, hormones or serum albumin.

The influence of androgen status on the regulation of lipolysis and number of beta-adrenoceptors in isolated adipocytes was studied in male rats. Castration resulted in decreased catecholamine-induced as well as forskolin-induced lipolysis. beta-adrenoceptor number, examined by a whole cell cyanopindolol binding assay, was also diminished to a similar extent. Testosterone treatment of castrated rats normalized lipolysis as well as beta-adrenoceptor number. These results demonstrate that testosterone stimulates catecholamine-induced lipolysis in vivo by increasing the number of beta-adrenoceptors as well as the activity of adenylate cyclase, confirming previous in vitro studies performed in adipose precursor cells.

The world is currently struggling to face the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and many countries have imposed lockdowns and recommended quarantine to limit both the spread of the virus and overwhelming demands for medical care. Direct implications include the disruption of work routines, boredom, depression, increased calorie consumption, and other similar harmful effects. The present narrative review article briefly analyzes the preliminary effects of the quarantine lifestyle from the standpoint of dietary habits. In six different databases, we searched for original articles up to 10 August 2020, assessing eating habits among populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded any change in the intake of major food categories, as well as changes in body weight. The research strategy yielded 364 articles, from which we selected 12 articles that fitted our goal. Our preliminary findings revealed a sharp rise of carbohydrates sources consumption, especially those with a high glycemic index (i.e., homemade pizza, bread, cake, and pastries), as well as more frequent snacks. A high consumption of fruits and vegetables, and protein sources, particularly pulses, was also recorded, although there was no clear peak of increase in the latter. Data concerning the consumption of junk foods lacked consistency, while there was a decreased alcohol intake and fresh fish/seafood consumption. As a possible connection, people gained body weight. Therefore, in the realistic perspective of a continuing global health emergency situation, timely preventive measures are needed to counteract obesity-related behaviors in the long-term, so as to prevent further health complications.