April - June 2015, Volume 11, Issue 2

Galoiu S

Insights into Obesity’s Pathogenesis and Pharmacological Management

Acta Endo (Buc) 2015, 11 (2): 262-263
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2015.262

Obesity is an increasing public health problem, the fifth leading risk for global deaths according to WHO. It is associated with major comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and depression. The obesity pathogenesis increasingly became clearer. It is thought to be the result of a neuroendocrine dysregulation of energy intake and energy expenditure. One of the most studied cytokines involved in obesity, leptin is secreted from adipose tissue, proportional to fat mass. It inhibits neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related peptide neurons and activates pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)/ cocaine amphetamine-related transcript neurons in the hypothalamus, resulting in an anorectic effect.

Keywords: obesity, leptin, POMC

Correspondence: Simona Galoiu MD, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “C.I.Parhon” National Institute of Endocrinology, 34-36 Blvd Aviatorilor, Bucharest, 011863, Romania, E-mail: simona.galoiu@gmail.com