Association between obesity and iron deficiency (Review)

Abstract

Obesity is a risk factor for several comorbidities and complications, including iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a serious global public health problem, with a worldwide prevalence. The high prevalence of obesity in combination with iron deficiency incidence observed in different age and sex categories suggests an association between obesity and iron status. Obesity may disrupt iron homeostasis, resulting in iron deficiency anemia. The association between obesity and iron deficiency may be due to increased hepcidin levels mediated by chronic inflammation. Hepcidin is a small peptide hormone that functions as a negative regulator of intestinal iron absorption. Significant body weight loss in overweight and obese individuals decreases chronic inflammation and serum hepcidin levels, resulting in improved iron status due to increased iron absorption. However, further randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this effect. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Iron metabolism 3. Hepcidin and iron homeostasis 4. Obesity and low-grade chronic inflammation 5. Association between overweight and obesity, and iron status 6. Effect of weight loss on iron status 7. Future research and clinical implications 8. Conclusions

Physical Activity Levels of a Multi-Ethnic Population of Middle-Aged Men Living in Saudi Arabia and Factors Associated With Physical Inactivity

“…Saudi Arabia has one of the highest overweight and obesity rates worldwide [10]. Obesity is associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases and health disorders [33,34]. It is recognized that physical inactivity is a significant factor that contributes to overweight and obesity incidence [35].…”

Breakfast Skipping among a Multi-Ethnic Population of Young Men and Relationship with Sociodemographic Determinants and Weight Status

“…Overweight and obesity rates are continuously rising at the global level [ 1 ]. Obesity is the most common form of malnutrition and is linked to the elevated prevalence of chronic diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and worldwide disease burden [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Several eating patterns, such as frequency of meals eaten during the day, eating at night, the portion size of meals, frequency of meals eaten outside the home, and breakfast skipping, are closely connected with obesity incidence [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Breakfast Skipping in a Multi-Ethnic Population of Middle-Aged Men and Relationship With Sociodemographic Variables and Weight Status

“…Overweight and obesity prevalence is steadily increasing worldwide (1). Currently, obesity is the most frequent form of malnutrition, and it is associated with a higher incidence of obesity-related diseases and a higher global disease burden (2)(3)(4). Many dietary habits are thought to be linked to obesity, such as the number of meals consumed during the day, the number of meals consumed away from home, eating at night, the portion size of food, and skipping breakfast (5)(6)(7)(8).…”