What is the association between chronic inflammation and the metabolic syndrome?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Chronic inflammation accompanies obesity, and inflammation contributes to chronic diseases. As a person grows fatter, lipids first fill the adipose tissue and then migrate into other tissues such as the muscles and liver. Fatty liver is a major contributor to the many diseases associated with obesity. This accumulation of fat, especially in the abdominal region, changes the body's metabolism, resulting in insulin resistance (and high blood glucose), low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure. This cluster of symptoms—collectively known as the metabolic syndrome—increases the risks for diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Fat accumulation, especially in the abdominal region, activates genes that code for proteins (adipokines) involved in inflammation. Furthermore, although relatively few immune cells are commonly found in adipose tissue, weight gain significantly increases their number and their role in inflammation. Elevated blood lipids—whether due to obesity or to a high-fat diet—also promote inflammation. Together, these factors help to explain why chronic inflammation accompanies obesity and how obesity contributes to the metabolic syndrome and the progression of chronic diseases. Even in healthy youngsters, body fat correlates positively with chronic inflammation. As might be expected, weight loss improves insulin resistance, reduces the number of immune cells in adipose tissue, and changes gene expression to reduce inflammation.