Adipose tissue as endocrine organ

Abstract

The global prevalence of obesity has increased at an alarming rate, particularly in the highly developed countries of North America and Europe. This excess adiposity is associated with various negative psychosocial impacts and is a primary cause of disability, reduced economic productivity, and shortened life spans [1,2]. Obese individuals are also at increased risk for a number of serious comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, gall bladder disease, sleep apnea, and some cancers [3-7].