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Innovative Medicines & Omics Pharmacotherapy of obesity

body fat and the extent of it, as well. The World Health hypertensive metabolic syndrome, which all in turn
Organization (WHO) defines overweight as having a BMI predispose individuals to the risk of diseases, potentially
between 25 and 29.9 kg/m², and obesity as having a BMI causing premature death or suffering. Obesity can also
≥30 kg/m². BMI can be classified into three classes: Class I result in social stigma, loss of dignity, and perceived self-
(BMI = 30 – 34.9 kg/m ), Class II (35 – 39.9 kg/m ), and worth reduction, which contribute to the complexity of
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Class III or obesity (≥40 kg/m ). Apart from BMI, there therapy. 11
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are several alternative methods to measure obesity that
can provide a more detailed understanding of a person’s 3. Causes of obesity
body composition. Waist-to-hip ratio measures fat Obesity is a multifactorial disease that results from the
distribution, with a higher ratio indicating a greater risk interplay of genetic, biological, social, and environmental
of metabolic conditions. Waist-to-height ratio compares factors. For more than 30 years, research indicates that
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waist circumference to height, with a ratio above 0.5 biopsychosocial factors often outweigh individual choices
suggesting an increased risk of health issues. Body fat in the weight gain balance. 12
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percentage estimates the proportion of fat versus lean mass
and can be measured through methods like bioelectrical Some examples of factors that intensify risk include the
impedance or calipers. Advanced techniques like dual- genetics impact on syndromic, monogenic, and polygenic
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energy X-ray absorptiometry and hydrostatic weighing obesity, especially in children with severe childhood
offer precise measurements of body fat and lean mass. 7 obesity. Less well understood, but still involved in hunger
These alternatives can provide a more accurate picture of and weight control, are other molecular pathways,
obesity, especially when BMI alone may not reflect true though the hormonal regulation especially through the
body fat or health risks. leptin-melanocortin pathway appears to be particularly
prominent. 13
Obesity increases a person’s risk of having several
medical disorders, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, The rise in obesity in recent decades can be attributed
Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types to a combination of environmental, behavioral, genetic,
of malignancies, including esophageal, pancreatic, colon, and societal factors. Modern diets are dominated by high-
and breast cancers. Due to the multitude of associated calorie, nutrient-poor processed foods, larger portion
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health risks, obesity remains a complicated public health sizes, and frequent snacking, all of which contribute to
challenge that requires a multifaceted multidisciplinary excessive calorie consumption. Sedentary lifestyles have
approach. become prevalent due to increased screen time, reduced
physical exercise, and reliance on cars, buses, and trains
2. Clinical imaging of obesity for transportation. Furthermore, the aggressive food
marketing and the mushrooming of dessert options have
As already mentioned, obesity is an intricate disease that made healthy diet choices less accessible. Stressful work
can be explained as an abnormal fat deposition in the body. patterns, economic constraints, and psychological factors
Different physical as well as metabolic complications can be such as stress and emotional eating also exacerbate the
produced. Individuals who are overweight usually display problem. Moreover, public health challenges, including
increased body girth, some signs of metabolic disturbance, a lack of awareness and inadequate policies, also hinder
and pathological changes to several bodily systems. 9 efforts to promote healthier lifestyles. Furthermore,
Common clinical features that are linked to obesity socioeconomic status is relevant to obesity prevalence as
include insulin resistance, dyslipidemia (high levels poverty and obesity rates are often linked in rich nations.
of cholesterol and triglycerides), hypertension, and Thus, the relationship between obesity and poverty
hyperglycemia. Leptin and adiponectin, two important presents a much complex picture than it may seem when
hormones in the metabolic process, are altered by obesity prevalence of the pathological condition is dissected from
leading to multiple disorders like Type 2 diabetes, non- a socioeconomic perspective. 14
alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disorders. The most common type of obesity in children and
In fact, fat accumulation in the abdominal region is a major adolescents is characterized by an imbalance between
risk factor for cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep intake and expenditure of calories, promoting, as already
apnea, a condition where breathing is halted for short mentioned, the risk for comorbid conditions, such as
periods during sleep. 10 Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver
Childhood or adolescent obesity is commonly, though disease. Emotional issues, such as stress and psychological
not exclusively, associated with comorbidities developed disorders, may also be a cause for abnormal eating
earlier in life, such as Type 2 diabetes and Type 2 diabetic habits, particularly emotional eating. Dietary patterns are

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 2 doi: 10.36922/imo.8316