Insulin resistance in obesity: pathogenesis and effects

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity in the world is described as the global epidepic. Being not only a chronic recurrent disease but also a serious risk factor, obesity leads to the development and aggravation of many non-communicable diseases. Excessive amount and adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity determines the risk of the development of type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease etc. Secondary insulin resistance often underlies the development of the above mentioned conditions. The mechanisms contributing to the development of insulin resistance in case of excessive adipose tissue accumulation are being intensively investigated over the last decades, however many questions yet remain unsolved. In this article we present the key mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in obesity and diagnostic approaches for insulin resistance as well as the current data in this topic. The authors review the close links between insulin resistance and obesity related diseases, namely disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease and reproductive disorders.

Keywords

• obesity
• abdominal obesity
• insulin resistance
• diabetes
• adipose tissue
• insulin
• dyslipidemia
• nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• infertility
• reproductive disorders