Novel Insights of Endocrinology and Obesity

Dear Colleagues,

The prevalence of obesity and overweight conditions in children and adults and their pathophysiologic sequelae are rapidly approaching epidemic proportions throughout much of Western society. The evolution and diverse origins of the pathophysiologic sequelae of overweight conditions currently represent one of the most important and pressing global public health issues of the current era. The progressive development of excess body fat accretion occurs via a seemingly complex multifactorial interplay of endocrine, neurologic, nutritional, metabolic lifestyle, and other factors that collectively contribute to the elements of disordered energy balance that result in obesity, often with potentially lifelong consequences. In addition, because excess adiposity is associated with a state of chronic inflammation, it negatively affects cardiovascular, neurologic, and other key tissues of the body, where it contributes to the major, prevalent sequalae of obesity, including NIDDM, metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension, renal dysfunction, and other significant metabolic disorders commonly associated with obesity if left untreated. Moreover, predisposing factors may be combined with an epigenetic and environmental contributor toward one or more of the causative factors. Because of the widespread nature of inflammatory responses and their broader progressive metabolic and pathologic consequences, treatment options typically pose a serious strain on the availability of economic and therapeutic resources needed for their effective clinical management.

In this Special Issue, an overview of emerging insights into the origins and metabolic determinants of obesity and excess body fat accumulation is discussed at the molecular, endocrinologic, neurologic,  and physiologic levels of organization. Taken together, these findings and insights may suggest novel and improved approaches for the development of effective strategies for the treatment of this medical and economic burden to society.

I express my sincere appreciation for the insightful contributions of all of the Special Issue authors for their works, and I hope that the culmination of this Special Issue will help to provide answers and explanations for the many facets of obesity and its pathophysiologic sequelae with a vision toward an amelioration of this dilemma in global public health.

Dr. Orien L. Tulp
Guest Editor

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• obesity
• overweight
• metabolic syndrome (MetS)
• NIDDM
• public health