[Impact of climate warming and global pollution on the obesity and diabetes epidemic]

This article discusses the potential roles of global warming and various environmental pollutants in the increasing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Global warming may exert detrimental effects through both biological pathways (reduced thermogenesis, adipocyte dysfunction) and behavioural mechanisms (decreased physical activity, sleep disturbances). Pollutants - whether present in ambient air (fine particulate matter), water, or food (broadly defined pesticides, industrial and domestic chemicals) - can alter metabolic processes, particularly within adipocytes, a key site where they tend to accumulate. They can induce "adiposopathy," low grade inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. Pancreatic β cell dysfunction has also been reported. Thus, climate change and its environmental consequences should be taken into account when interpreting the global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes that societies worldwide are currently facing.