Obesity and Inflammation

Abstract

A large body of clinical and preclinical studies of obesity support the classification of obesity as a pro-inflammatory state of chronic low-grade inflammation. This chapter will review the evidence describing the nature of obesity-induced inflammation and discuss leukocyte mediators of this unique type of inflammatory response. It will also examine some of the leading hypotheses regarding the mechanisms by which obesity-induced inflammation is generated, and the implications of these findings to the health of people with obesity.