Talca Imran
Obesity is a global epidemic significantly affecting metabolic health and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This review examines the pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity, including genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and gut microbiota changes, and their role in metabolic dysfunction. It also addresses the concepts of "Metabolically Healthy Obesity" (MHO) and "metabolically unhealthy normal weight" (MUHW), highlighting obesity's complexity beyond BMI. Key risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, psychosocial issues, and socioeconomic status are explored. Effective prevention and management strategies include lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery, and public health initiatives. Future research should focus on personalized medicine, novel treatments, and understanding the gut microbiome and epigenetics.