How is Obesity Linked to Inflammation?
Increasingly, obesity is being seen as a perpetual state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Obesity is closely linked to inflammation because excess body fat, especially fat surrounding internal organs, can release chemicals that trigger the immune system. Unlike acute inflammation, which is a short-term response to infection or injury, chronic inflammation is long-lasting and harmful.1,2
In obese people, increased levels of inflammatory molecules such as adipokines and cytokines affect many metabolic functions in the body.3,4 This imbalance keeps the body in a state of low-grade inflammation, which can damage tissues and disrupt normal processes such as blood sugar control. These molecules are now being targeted as potential options for treatment, both for obesity itself and other inflammatory conditions.1,2
Obesity and Examples of Inflammation Elsewhere in the Body
Dermatology
Obesity is a multi-organ disease that affects the entire body. For example, skin changes in obese patients have been widely studied, with 60% to 70% of patients with obesity presenting with a variety of skin changes. Metabolic syndrome and obesity are often responsible for skin inflammation and are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancers.6,7
Gastroenterology
The incidence of gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising together with the number of individuals who are overweight or obese. Approximately 15% to 40% of patients with IBD are obese, which could be a contributor to the development of IBD.8 Obesity might also affect response to treatment for GI conditions. For example, studies looking at biologic agents approved for IBD, including infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, and vedolizumab, have shown that high body weight is a risk factor for increased drug clearance. This means the drug may not be present in the body of people with obesity as long as it would for non-obese people.9
Rheumatology
In rheumatic diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), obesity is associated with higher disease activity and poorer treatment outcomes. Patients with obesity and these conditions often show reduced responsiveness to treatments and lower rates of remission. This is likely due to chronic low-grade inflammation.10 Similarly, in these patients obesity is linked to more severe disease and more comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.11 These associations suggest that obesity amplifies inflammation and interfere with how well treatments work.
In short, obesity doesn’t just mean extra weight—it works to create a harmful environment inside the body where inflammation fuels disease.
References
- Jacot A, et al. Obesity and Inflammation: How Are They Connected? Myobesityteam.com. Accessed 1/7/26. https://www.myobesityteam.com/resources/obesity-and-inflammation-how-are-they-connected
- The Surprising Link Between Chronic Inflammation & Obesity—Plus What You Can Do About It. EatingWell. Accessed 1/7/26. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7901433/surprising-link-between-chronic-inflammation-obesity/
- Olefsky J, Glass CK. Annu Rev Physiol. 2010;72:219–246.
- de Frel DL, et al. Front Nutr. 2020;7:597-600.
- Scientists Identify a Trigger for Obesity-Linked Inflammation. WCM Newsroom. Accessed 1/7/26. https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2025/11/scientists-identify-a-trigger-for-obesity-linked-inflammation
- Darlenski R, et al. Front Nutr. 2022;9:855573.
- Palanivel JA, Millington GWM. Skin Health Dis. 2023;3:e160.
- Molodecky N, et al. Gastroenterology. 2012;142:46–54.
- Bassi M, Singh S. BioDrugs. 2022;36:197-203.
- Poudel DR, Karmacharya P. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017;47:e2.
- Kumthekar A, Ogdie A. Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7:447-456.
