ETIOPATHOGENESIS AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF OBESITY AS A DISEASE OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Adipose tissue performs many functions in the human body: storage by accumulating fat in the form of triglycerides, metabolic, heat-insulating or immunomodulatory by the secretion of many molecules called adipocytokines, among them tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1, 6, 10, adiponectin, leptin, resistin and many others. Due to such a wide range of secreted molecules, adipose tissue is considered to be an important endocrine organ. Adipose tissue is also characterized by high dynamics resulting from differentiation and proliferation of preadipocytes, and as a result of hyperplasia may lead to the development of overweight or obesity. Nowadays, easy availability of food, highly processed food and lack of physical activity favor a positive energy balance leading to the accumulation of adipose tissue. Obesity as a disease entity arises through an excess of energy supply, which is in our body controlled by many organs, and thus - the dysfunction of any of them can lead to its development. With the development of molecular research techniques, knowledge about the genetic basis of obesity has increased - at present there are approximately 600 genes that may be related to its formation, of which the best-known ones - leptin gene, melanocortin-4 and proopiomelanocortin gene mutations are associated with hereditary obesity. In addition, obesity occurs as a component of genetic syndromes, but its causes are not the same. Excessive fat levels are harmful to many organs and lead to cardiovascular diseases, cancer or type 2 diabetes, which means that obesity should be considered a very serious problem of our times.