Lihua Wang,1,2,* Qian Wang,3,* Yumo Xiong,4,* Wei Shi,5,* Xiao Qi6 

1Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Department of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 3Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Optical Valley Branch, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Huayuanshan Branch, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 6School of Artificial Intelligence, Jianghan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Xiao Qi, School of Artificial Intelligence, Jianghan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15271479039, Email qixiao@jhun.edu.cn

Abstract: Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease and a major global public health challenge. Defined by excessive fat accumulation, obesity significantly increases the risk of numerous diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, contributing to rising morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Although several pharmacological treatments have demonstrated notable efficacy in weight management, concerns regarding drug safety remain a significant challenge. Metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) has emerged as the most effective intervention for achieving long-term and sustained weight loss; however, it is typically reserved for advanced stages of the disease. Moreover, the role of MBS in managing obesity-related comorbidities remains a topic of ongoing debate. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology of obesity and its associated comorbidities, along with the latest insights into the mechanisms underlying obesity-induced chronic complications. Growing evidence highlights the crucial role of imbalances between white and brown adipose tissues, alterations in gut microbiota, genetic and epigenetic modifications, and immune system dysregulation in driving obesity and its related conditions. These emerging insights have unveiled numerous potential therapeutic targets with promising weight-reducing effects. Furthermore, advancements in our understanding of signal transduction pathways may pave the way for future multimodal therapeutic strategies in obesity management, ushering in a new era of precision medicine.

Keywords: obesity, comorbidity, mechanism, treatment, clinical challenges