This unique two-part issue of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics is a must-read. It addresses multiple aspects of obesity and the brain, as well as inflammation. The brain's regulation of appetite and satiety; and hepatic glucose metabolism by nutrients and hormones, are addressed, as well as epidemiology of obesity and monogenic disorders. Articles on insulin resistance and its connection to atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and its relation to the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease, are included. Complications of obesity are addressed, including hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Other topics covered are fatty acids; the adipose cell as an endocrine system; inflammation and ER stress; mitochondrial dysfunction; the role of gut hormones; the roles of adipose tissue mass and ectopic fat; inflammation and the immune system; and the microbial role in obesity. Obesity therapies covered include exercise, diet, cognitive-behavioral approaches, medications, and bariatric surgery.
