**1. Introduction**

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. It is the result of the combination of genetic factors, inadequate nutrition, and lack of regular physical activity. The ingestion of a diet of high energy density is the main cause of visceral or central obesity, since the excess energy is stored in adipocytes, which increase in size and number, or both, especially the visceral ones, producing an increase in the rate of lipolysis, which, in turn, stimulates the secretion of cytokines by the infiltration of leukocytes, macrophages generating inflammation in the adipocytes, and leads to proinflammatory state, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction. Thus, adipose tissue dysfunction represents the etiopathogenic mechanism (**Figure 1**) in the development of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and renal disease initiated by visceral obesity [1].

The WHO defines overweight and obesity as "abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can affect health." A person is defined as normal weight if their BMI is 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 , overweight if the BMI is 25–29.9, or obese if the BMI is 30 or more [2].

#### **Figure 1.**

*Etiopathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity.*
