Lourdes Cáceres, Aleepta Guha Ray, Margo P. Emont, Ada Weinstock
The global rise in obesity underscores the urgent need for effective long-term weight-management strategies. Weight loss (WL) is extremely beneficial in combating obesity complications, justifying the great success of recent WL medications. However, most individuals trying to lose weight will fail to maintain a lower body weight. Weight regain following WL increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Adipose tissue inflammation is a critical mediator of metabolic dysfunction in obesity, contributing to cardiovascular complications. In obesity, chronic low-grade inflammation, marked by immune infiltration and dysregulated adipocyte function, contributes to systemic insulin resistance and metabolic comorbidities. However, the adipose tissue response to WL and subsequent weight regain is distinct from that in non-weight-fluctuating obesity and far less studied. This review synthesizes current literature to elucidate the dynamic shifts in adipose tissue across the continuum of obesity, WL, and weight regain.