Role of obesity in development of insulin resistance: A review

Abstract

The relationship between obesity and insulin resistance is widely accepted. This relationship represents several major health hazards including morbid obesity and insulin resistance complications worldwide. The obesity and insulin resistance are two major risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The pathogenesis of obesity-induced insulin resistance is still obscure in many aspects. The present review is intended to describe the correlation between lipids, obesity and insulin resistance based on current literature and prospective cohort studies and clinical trials, in order to elucidate involved molecular mechanisms in depth. Specifically, the focus will be on the major changes in glucose and lipid metabolism induced by insulin, also, adipose tissue inflammation as predominantly driven by adipose tissue macrophages, but also related alterations in other organs (liver, muscle) have to be considered and their effect on the insulin resistance development. This review will also discuss some of the potential mechanisms that are thought to link obesity and insulin resistance with the major pathophysiological precursor of T2DM.