The changes in adipocytes (fat cells) in obesity mentioned under “The adipose tissue as a metabolic organ” lead to a predominance of proinflammatory mediators – tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and other cytokines – with the consequence of an increase in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries → cardiovascular disease/cardiovascular disease ↑) and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes).
Furthermore, the increase in the secretion of angiotensin II leads to increased oxidative stress – one of the causes of aging. Also, due to the increase in free fatty acids free fatty acids (FFS; free fatty acids; ffa) – as a result of obesity – the “aged” mitochondria are overtaxed and more reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) are produced – resulting in the increase in oxidative stress and, consequently, the increase in diseases associated with oxidative stress.
