Pathogenesis of obesity

Abstract

The escalating prevalence of obesity worldwide is an ever increasing source of concern to disease surveillance units, health monitoring agencies and healthcare providers globally. Resource allocation in healthcare has had to be tailored to the management of this global epidemic. However the key to success in tackling this problem lies in prevention and this in itself mandates a thorough understanding of the physiology of weight control and the pathogenesis of obesity. The development of obesity is undoubtedly multifactorial with the major underlying causes being inappropriate diet and lifestyle. Genetic factors have been shown to modulate the phenotypic expression of obesity. Medications such as steroids and endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism can also lead to disturbances in the normal physiology of weight control in a small percentage of instances. However in the vast majority of weight problems and obesity, the aetiology is a mismatch between food intake and energy expenditure.