Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: Interconnections, Mechanisms, and Implications for Health

Odile Patrick Thalia

Faculty of Biological Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are two interrelated global health challenges whose prevalence continues to rise across all age groups and socioeconomic settings. Obesity, particularly central adiposity, plays a critical pathophysiological role in the development and progression of MetS, which is defined by the clustering of abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and impaired glucose regulation. This narrative review synthesizes current scientific evidence on the definitions, diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, and mechanistic links between obesity and MetS. Key interconnected mechanisms include adipose-tissue dysfunction, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, and obesity-related vascular alterations. Together, these pathways promote a spectrum of clinical consequences, notably cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers. The review further discusses therapeutic strategies including lifestyle modification, pharmacological interventions, bariatric surgery, and emerging precision-medicine approaches. Public health implications underscore the need for multisectoral policies that address obesogenic environments and health inequities. Finally, future research directions highlight the importance of longitudinal studies, biomarker discovery, and implementation science to strengthen prevention and management strategies. Understanding the complex interplay between obesity and metabolic syndrome is essential to mitigating their global burden and improving long-term population health outcomes.

Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, Adipose Tissue Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, Lipotoxicity, and Obesity-Related Inflammation

 

CITE AS: Odile Patrick Thalia (2026). Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: Interconnections, Mechanisms, and Implications for Health. IDOSR JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 12(1): 10-19. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JES/06/1211019