Obesity is associated with many health complications, which are attributable to several
mechanistic changes that take place as excess adipose tissue builds up in the body.
These changes include chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance,
endothelial dysfunction, elevated levels of growth-promoting adipokines, mechanical
effects of excess adiposity due to ectopic deposition and direct loading, and heightened
activities of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous
system (SNS). These mechanistic processes may occur in isolation or in combination
to contribute to the development of obesity-associated comorbidities. Understanding
the full spectrum of obesity-associated comorbidities will help to guide the clinical
assessment as well as treatment and monitoring of individuals with obesity. This chapter
will include a review of the current evidence in relation to the scope of obesity-associated
comorbidities and discussions on how excess adiposity can contribute to their pathogenesis.
