The intricate nexus: the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation in obesity

Obesity, defined as excessive fat storage, is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, produce ROS during oxidative bursts to attack infections. However, in obese people, increased ROS generation in hypertrophic and hypoxic adipose tissue maintains a chronic inflammatory state. ROS and Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) generated by stressed adipocytes activate inflammatory pathways and transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Identifying such mechanisms highlights the possibility of targeting ROS generation and inflammatory pathways to reduce chronic inflammation and enhance metabolic health in obesity. This review seeks to clarify the complex link between oxidative stress, inflammation, and obesity.