Inflammation and Its Role in Obesity-Related Complications

The pathophysiology of inflammation has emerged as a player in the quest to understand the fundamental functions involved in obesity-enabled diseases. The dysregulated adipose tissue homeostasis and its endocrine function due to the excessive consumption of high-calorie diet, compounded with a modern sedentary lifestyle and predisposing effects of environmental and genetic factors, result in the initiation and the development of low-grade chronic inflammation in obese and overweight patients. The increased inflammatory cytokines and chemokines further complicate the already challenged physiology of the person with obesity and manifest into several associated comorbidities, including T2DM, heart diseases, cancer, and early aging. This chapter discusses the intricate association among obesity, inflammation, and their resultant and associated comorbidities. Additionally, some of the current and conventional therapeutic approaches and potential future interventional strategies targeting newer molecular players are also addressed.