Endocrine Aspects of Obesity

These flashcards cover key concepts related to obesity, its risks, and the roles of adipokines, adipose tissue, and various mouse models in understanding metabolic diseases.

What is obesity primarily associated with in terms of risk factors?

Obesity is associated with increased risk for Type II diabetes, hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, and certain cancers.

What is the traditional view of adipose tissue?

The traditional view of adipose tissue is as a way of storing energy for later use.

What does metabolic syndrome consist of?

Metabolic syndrome consists of increased blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess fat around the waist, high triglyceride levels, and low HDL levels.

What are the roles of adipose tissue in obesity?

Adipose tissue acts as an endocrine tissue, secreting various cytokines and hormones that influence metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation.

Give an example of a mouse model of obesity and its significance.

The ob/ob mouse, which does not express leptin, provides insight into the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure.

What is the impact of adipokines like leptin and adiponectin on health?

Leptin decreases appetite and increases energy expenditure while adiponectin has anti-inflammatory effects and enhances insulin sensitivity.

What is hypertrophy in the context of adipocytes?

Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of adipocytes, which is often associated with negative health effects.

What is the effect of obesity on the secretion of adipokines?

Obesity leads to altered adipokine secretion, with increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

What is the relationship between insulin resistance and obesity?

Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's response to insulin is inadequate, often leading to higher insulin levels and can progress to Type 2 diabetes.

What factors are used to diagnose obesity?

Obesity is diagnosed using Body Mass Index (BMI), with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m² considered obese.

How do high fat diets affect obesity in animal models?

High fat diets lead to impaired glucose tolerance, increased weight gain, and insulin resistance in animal models.

What is the physiological role of brown adipose tissue (BAT)?

Brown adipose tissue's primary function is thermoregulation and producing heat through non-shivering thermogenesis.

What effect does leptin have on insulin signaling?

Leptin acts in the hypothalamus to depress appetite and affects insulin signaling, where its absence can lead to insulin resistance.

How does hypertension relate to obesity?

Hypertension is often correlated with obesity due to alterations in adipokine secretion and inflammation.

Explain the significance of visceral adipose tissue (VAT).

Visceral adipose tissue is linked to increased risk for metabolic diseases and is resistant to insulin signaling.

What is lipodystrophy?

Lipodystrophy is a disorder characterized by the loss of adipose tissue in specific regions, often leading to metabolic syndrome.

How is adipocyte death related to inflammation in obesity?

Adipocyte death in expanding adipose tissue prompts macrophage infiltration, contributing to chronic inflammation.

What potential complications are associated with obesity-related cancer?

Obesity can lead to increased tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy, and higher mortality.

How can exercise affect visceral adipose tissue (VAT)?

Exercise can decrease VAT and improve overall metabolic health, reducing the risk of related diseases.

Why might interventions targeting leptin be ineffective in obese individuals?

Obese individuals may display leptin resistance, where despite high levels of leptin, the expected metabolic effects don't occur.

What does PPARγ do in adipocyte development?

PPARγ is a transcription factor essential for adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.