Biochemistry · MU Sofia

33. OBESITY…

Covers obesity as a chronic condition of excess body fat, its causes and health consequences, and how dietary fat is stored in adipocytes, including hypertrophy and hyperplasia. It then looks at leptin, leptin resistance, and the JAK-STAT pathway, before turning to fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis with its clinical consequences, and cholelithiasis with its gallstone types and risk factors. Several pictures are included, with a bulleted list of risk factors and complications.

Inside: 20 sections · 16 labelled pictures · 10 flashcards · 5 min

Topic 33 of 70 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Biochemistry (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 13 sections, about 746 words (5 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.

In this note

  1. Introduction
  2. BIOCHEM POINT 33: OBESITY…
  3. Definition and Epidemiology
  4. Causes and Risk Factors
  5. Role of Eating Fatty Foods
  6. Obesity characterization
  7. Health Consequences
  8. Role of Leptin
  9. Jak – Stat Pathway
  10. Jak – Stat Pathway continued…
  11. Fatty Liver
  12. Atherosclerosis, Tissue Ischemia, and Myocardial Infarction
  13. Cholelithiasis

BIOCHEM POINT 33: OBESITY…

Fatma Warsame

Definition and Epidemiology

  • Obesity is a complex, chronic medical condition characterized by an excess accumulation of body fat.
  • It is commonly assessed using body mass index (BMI), calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
  • Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with significant implications for public health.

Causes and Risk Factors

  • Obesity results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioural factors.
  • Sedentary lifestyle, high-calorie diet, genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, and socioeconomic status contribute to obesity.
  • Certain medical conditions and medications can also increase the risk of obesity.

Role of Eating Fatty Foods

  1. 1.Lipid Absorption: When you consume fatty foods, the digestive system breaks down dietary fats into fatty acids and glycerol, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream primarily through the small intestine.
  2. 2.Transport and Storage: Fatty acids are transported in the bloodstream bound to proteins and taken up by adipocytes for storage. Adipocytes function as energy reservoirs, storing excess energy in the form of triglycerides during periods of energy surplus (such as after consuming a meal high in fat).
  3. 3.Adipose Tissue Expansion: Continuous intake of fatty foods, especially those high in saturated and trans fats, can lead to chronic overnutrition and excess calorie consumption. This results in adipose tissue expansion as adipocytes increase in size (hypertrophy) and number (hyperplasia) to accommodate the storage of excess triglycerides.
  4. 4.Hormonal Regulation: Eating fatty foods can also influence hormonal regulation of appetite and energy balance. For example, consuming high-fat meals may lead to alterations in the secretion of hormones such as leptin (which regulates satiety) and ghrelin (which stimulates appetite), potentially contributing to overeating and weight gain in susceptible individuals.

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