Abstract: Obesity is an exaggeration of normal adiposity and is a
central player in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, insulin
resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, largely
due to its secretion of excessive adipokines. Obesity is a major
contributor to the metabolic dysfunction involving lipid and glucose,
but on a broader scale, it influences organ dysfunction involving
cardiac, liver, intestinal, pulmonary, endocrine, and reproductive
functions. Inflammatory, insulin-resistant, hypertensive, and throm-
botic-promoting adipokines, which are atherogenic, are counter-
balanced by anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic adipocyte
hormones such as adiponectin, visfatin, and acylation-stimulating
protein, whereas certain actions of leptin and resistin are pro-athero-
genic. Adiponectin is protective against liver fibrosis due to its anti-
inflammatory effect, whereas inflammatory cytokines such as tumor
necrosis factor-α are detrimental for both fatty liver and pancreatic
insulin release. Obesity contributes to immune dysfunction from the
effects of its inflammatory adipokine secretion and is a major risk
factor for many cancers, including hepatocellular, esophageal, and
colon. Because of the accelerating effects that obesity has on the
worsening of metabolic syndrome and cancer, it has the potential to
be profoundly detrimental to our species if major methods of preven-
tion and/or effective treatment are not realized. It is essential then to
institute major educational efforts aimed at promoting better eating
habits and physical exercise.