Gastroenterology clinics of North America
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Obesity is associated with a spectrum of chronic liver disease. Because obesity increases the risk for advanced forms of liver disease (ie, cirrhosis and liver cancer), the obesity epidemic is emerging as a major factor underlying the burden of liver disease in the United States and many other countries. This article reviews mechanisms that mediate the pathogenesis of obesity-related liver disease, summarizes clinical evidence that demonstrates obesity-related liver disease can be life-threatening, and discusses whether or not treatments for obesity or related comorbidities impact liver disease outcomes.
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Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. · Mar 2010
ReviewGastrointestinal symptoms and diseases related to obesity: an overview.
Obesity is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide. It is a risk factor for many common gastrointestinal symptoms and digestive disorders, including many cancers. Disruption of mechanisms that regulate appetite and satiety are fundamental to the development of obesity. Knowledge of these issues that are discussed in this article will provide the basis to develop health strategies to prevent obesity-related diseases.
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This article examines the transitions in pharmacological therapy for obesity. It reviews the current options approved by the Food and Drug Administration and several drugs approved for other indications that can be used to treat obesity as well. Because weight regulation is complex and redundant systems protect against perceived starvation, optimal treatment of obesity in individual patients will likely require different combinations of behavioral, nutritional, pharmacologic, endoscopic, and surgical therapies.