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Obesity Hacks the Brain's Systems for Weight Loss Resistance
Hamid Zand1, Katayoun Pourvali2, Azam Shakery2
1Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hamid_zand@sbmu.ac.ir.
Molecular Neurobiology
|December 3, 2025
Summary
Obesity triggers chronic brain inflammation, hindering weight loss and promoting regain. Understanding this neuroinflammation is key to developing effective obesity treatments beyond diet and exercise.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolism
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Obesity is a global health crisis with limited treatment success.
- Current strategies like diet and exercise often fail due to weight regain.
- The body actively resists fat loss, with underlying mechanisms often overlooked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the influence of adipose tissue on brain function.
- To explore the role of obesity-induced neuroinflammation in weight regulation.
- To understand why the body resists weight loss and experiences regain.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on obesity, adipose tissue, and brain function.
- Analysis of mechanisms contributing to obesity-associated inflammation.
- Examination of neuroinflammation's impact on metabolic control and appetite.
Main Results:
- Obesity is linked to chronic systemic inflammation, which can extend to the central nervous system.
- Obesity-induced neuroinflammation disrupts brain functions controlling metabolism, appetite, and weight.
- This neuroinflammation is a critical factor in the body's resistance to weight loss and subsequent weight regain.
Conclusions:
- Neuroinflammation is a primary driver of difficulty in losing weight and maintaining weight loss in obesity.
- Obesity involves a complex interplay of inflammation, hormonal shifts, and altered brain function.
- Targeting neuroinflammation may offer novel therapeutic strategies for obesity management.
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