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Biological Research For Nursing
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Promising New Causal Explanations for Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases

Carrie Power, MSN, APN, FNP

Indian Health Services, Elko, Nevada

Sally K. Miller, PhD, APN, ACNP, ANP, GNP, FAANP

Department of Physiologic Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing, Las Vegas, Nevada, sally.miller{at}ccmail.nevada.edu

Patricia T. Alpert, DrPH, MSN, APN, FNP, PNP, FAANP

Department of Physiologic Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing

Current explanations for obesity center around a predisposition in genotype and phenotype, possibly triggered by an inflammatory process or event, and exacerbated by environmental and psychological factors. It is likely that a variety of physiologic factors may act in combination to produce clinical obesity. Leptin resistance may be an important neurochemical cause of obesity; elevated leptin levels have been correlated with weight gain over extended time periods. Genetic studies support the postulate that a gene originating with our cave-dwelling ancestors, critical to survival when food was scare, has evolved into a trigger for obesity and related diseases. A variety of biochemical markers are prevalent in obesity and obesity-linked disease states. C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and others are elevated in obesity, supporting the hypothesis that inflammation plays a role in the condition. Tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} is overexpressed in obesity and diabetes, suggesting that it may be part of the link between the 2 conditions.

Key Words: obesity • leptin • adipose tissue • inflammation

Biological Research For Nursing, Vol. 8, No. 3, 223-233 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1099800406292674
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