Abstract
Obesity is considered to be a 20th century pandemic, and its prevalence correlates with the increasing global pollution and the presence of chemical compounds in the environment. Excessive adiposity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, but it is not merely an effect of overeating and lack of physical activity. Recently, several compounds that alter the mechanisms responsible for energy homeostasis have been identified and called “obesogens”. This work presents the role of obesogens in the pathogenesis of obesity. We reviewed data from in vitro animal and human studies concerning the role of obesogens in the disturbance of energy homeostasis. We identified (i) the main groups and classes of obesogens, (ii) the molecular mechanisms of their action, (iii) their deleterious effect on adipose tissue function and control of appetite, and (iv) possible directions in limiting their influence on human metabolism. Obesogens have a multifactorial detrimental influence on energy homeostasis. Focusing on limiting exposure to obesogens and improving early life nutrition seems to be the most reasonable direction of action to prevent obesity in future generations.
Highlights
IntroductionThe increasing number of overweight and obese individuals in the world (and the related health and socioeconomic consequences) has forced researchers to look for the potential reasons for this pandemic
The increasing number of overweight and obese individuals in the world has forced researchers to look for the potential reasons for this pandemic
We present the molecular mechanisms of obesogen action and the evidence regarding their contribution to adipose tissue dysfunction as well as to the collapse of mechanisms responsible for appetite control, which promote obesity
Summary
The increasing number of overweight and obese individuals in the world (and the related health and socioeconomic consequences) has forced researchers to look for the potential reasons for this pandemic. Excessive body mass gain is the result of a prolonged disturbance in the hormonally controlled homeostasis of energy balance, in which the metabolisms of many tissues and organs (gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, muscle, adipose tissue, liver, and brain) are involved. Processes such as appetite control, accumulation and mobilization of lipids from adipose storage depots, and the basal metabolic rate depend on a variety of hormonal factors [5], which in turn interact with human behavior, genetic predisposition, and the environment.
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