Obesity, Stress, Inflammation, and Psychoneuroimmunology

Abstract

Studies in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) would support the development of personalized, systems, and dynamical medicine toward the integrative prevention and treatment of obesity. Close associations have been identified among stress, depression, inflammation, and disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation has been suggested to serve as a transitional pathway connecting psychosocial stress and obesity. Inflammatory biomarkers have an essential role in the psychological stress and behavioral symptoms of those with obesity. Social and psychological factors may interact with genetic predisposition, dietary patterns, and lifestyle to influence weight gain and the condition of obesity. The individual maladaptation to chronic environmental stress exposure may contribute to obesity, especially the type of abdominal obesity. Chronic stress may interact with the mechanisms of energy intake and expenditure by promoting appetite while reducing physical activity. The dysregulations in the HPA axis may have close relationships with upper body obesity and sleep deprivation in metabolic diseases. The elucidation of the relevant cellular networks and interactions may contribute to the development of effective interventions for obesity and associated metabolic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.