Obesity: From Global Burden and Molecular Pathogenesis to Personalized Management and Prevention
Ahmed Abdullah Abdullah, Shanaz Mohammed Saleh
Apex Medical Journal, 2026, Volume 1, Issue 1
Obesity represents a major global public health challenge, characterized by increasing prevalence, substantial socioeconomic consequences, and a growing burden of metabolic, cardiovascular, and other obesity-associated complications. Beyond excessive adipose tissue accumulation, obesity is a complex, chronic, and heterogeneous disease arising from interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, neuroendocrine regulation, metabolic dysfunction, and behavioral factors. This review provides an integrated overview of the global epidemiology, molecular pathogenesis, clinical consequences, and evolving strategies for personalized management and prevention of obesity. Particular emphasis is placed on the roles of hypothalamic appetite regulation, adipose tissue dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, gut microbiota alterations, and dysregulated adipokine signaling in disease development and progression. The contribution of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to individual variability in obesity susceptibility and treatment response is also examined. Current therapeutic approaches, including lifestyle modification, behavioral interventions, pharmacotherapy, and metabolic and bariatric surgery, are critically discussed in relation to their effectiveness, limitations, and long-term outcomes. Emerging incretin-based therapies and precision medicine strategies offer opportunities to improve weight management and address obesity-related complicat