Overview of human obesity and central mechanisms regulating energy homeostasis

Abstract

Obesity is now regarded as a global epidemic affecting both adults and children, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thus the effective management of obesity has become an important clinical focus. Therefore, an understanding of the pathways controlling appetite, satiety and food intake is critical for gaining an insight into the pathogenesis of obesity and also for the development of diagnostic tests and therapeutic agents for use in the clinical management of this condition. Over the last decade or more research using both mouse and human genetic models has elucidated the critical role of the leptin-melanocortin pathway in the hypothalamus, in regulating mammalian energy balance. In tandem with this, a clearer understanding of the regulation of gut-derived hormones and their interaction with the central nervous system has further illuminated the complex interplay between central and peripheral aspects of energy regulation. The obesity epidemic and the expanded knowledge base relating to its aetiopathogenesis have specific implications for clinical biochemistry. In particular, an increase in workload may be expected due to biochemical investigation of obesity and its co-morbidities. Moreover, advice on the in-depth investigation of complex cases of obesity may be sought, including information on newer diagnostic tests, such as serum leptin or molecular genetic analysis. There may also be a substantive role for chemical pathologists in establishing and running clinical obesity services. Finally, clinical biochemistry has a role in research pertaining to obesity and cardiometabolic risk.

Study of Ghrelinand LeptinHormones Changes in Obese Postmenopausal Patients

“…In the same line with our results,Crowley [22]stated that,leptin levels were markedlyelevated in obese humansthan in lean individuals and directly associated with adiposity and asleptin inhibits gastric ghrelin secretion, accordingly ghrelin has lowconcentrations in obese subjects. Also, Gil-Campos et al [20] noticed that fasting leptin levels were positively associated with BMI.…”

Possible Association of Altered Serum Lipids in Obese Adult Females with Adenoviral Infection

“…The study was approved by the local Bioethics Committee in Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Poland. According to the World Health Organization criteria these subjects were classified according to determined body-mass index (BMI) value as normal weight (NW, BMI < 25 kg/m 2 ) and overweight/obese (OW/OB, BMI 25 kg/m 2 ) [21][22][23].…”

“…In humans, the presence of antibodies to human adenovirus Ad-36 in serum is associated with increased body mass index and paradoxical reduction in serum total cholesterol (TChol) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations [17,18]. The prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) has dramatically increased worldwide, and according to WHO there is a global epidemic of obesity [21,22]. Obesity is a chronic disease with multiple etiology including also such non-dietary factors as a viral and bacterial infection [17,18,20,[23][24][25].…”

Effect of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb Extract on High-fat Diet-induced Obesity and Gene Expression in Mice

“…2 , the extract content of the diet was adjusted to 0.8 , i.e., the level of ethanol extract in Exp. 1.…”