Obesity is obviously a growing concern within the United States. With the lack of desire to lead an active lifestyle, to the convenience of fast-food, Americans are adding inches to to their waistlines while increasing their risks for obtaining different obesity-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. What many Americans don't know is the role that inflammation plays in their weight gain, and in turn how this process can lead to other obesity comorbidities.
Within Robert W. O'Rourke's article, "Inflammation in Obesity-related Diseases", the biological process of inflammation within the body, particularly in adipose tissue, is explained in detail when related to obesity. Obesity is associated with a low-grade, systemic inflammation, and it is this biological response that is the fundamental tie between most obesity-related diseases. It primarily takes place within the adipose tissue of the body where adipocytes have the ability to transdifferentiate into macrophages (which are crucial to the regulation of immune responses). The article takes this a step further by then labeling adipose tissue as a potential "immune organ" because of the large amounts of adipose tissue-associated macrophages, or ATMs, residing there. Inflammation within obesity is also related to an increase in the levels of adipocytokines such as TNFα and IL-6 and a decrease in those that downregulate inflammation, such as adiponectin. The increased release of adipocytokines also affects other organ systems within the body via various hormonal pathways. Adipocyte enlargement can also take place within the adipose tissue, and once the adipocyte reaches a size that doesn't allow the most effective amount of oxygen to diffuse into the cell, adipocyte hypoxia occurs. The deprivation of oxygen to the adipocytes can then cause them to become necrotic, which then signals ATMs and other inflammatory markers to the site, causing (you guessed it) inflammation!
Most people hear the word "inflammation" and associate it with cuts and colds rather than conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Increasing awareness of how inflammation can affect a person chronically, with the possibility of transforming into something worse than just gaining a few pounds, may be the insight needed to encourage people change their lifestyles for the better.
From what I've heard, severe inflammation is associated with a great weight loss. With severe inflammation the body destroys its fat and muscle cells, which consequently leads to weight loss. If this is true,then I wonder if clinicians could induce a short-term severe inflammation in adipocytes of obese individuals in such a way to avoid harming of muscle cells. I know it sounds unrealistic, but it could be possible.
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