White adipose tissue (WAT) is an endocrine organ highly integrated in homeostasis and capable of establishing ways of communicating and influencing multiple metabolic processes. Brown adipose tissue promotes energy expenditure by incorporating the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), also known as thermogenin, which decouples cellular respiration and heat production, in the mitochondrial membranes. Recent data suggest the presence of a thermogenic cell formation from white adipocytes (beige or brite cells) with a potential role in preventing obesity and metabolic syndrome. The formation of these cells is influenced by physical exertion that induces expression of PPARγ coactivator-1 (PGC1) and downstream membrane protein, fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) in skeletal muscle. Irisin, a thermogenic adipomyokine produced by FNDC5 cleavage is involved in the browning of adipose tissue. While animal studies are congruent with regard to the relationship between physical exertion and irisin release, the results from human studies are less than clear. Therefore, this review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of muscle and adipose tissue thermogenesis. Further, it describes the molecular mechanisms by which irisin impacts exercise, glucose homeostasis and obesity. Finally, the review discusses current gaps and controversies related to irisin release, its mode of action and its future potential as a therapeutic tool in managing obesity and metabolic syndrome.

There is a need for a better understanding of how changes in gut microbiota composition can impact energy balance and thus control weight gain. This may represent a promising avenue in the race to develop nonsurgical treatments for obesity.

ghrelin is a gut peptide composed of 28 amino acids mostly secreted in the gastric fundus mucosa. It was isolated and described in 1999 by Kojima et al. and only three years later its specific receptor, ghsR1a, was also identified. ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the gh secretagogue receptor, is the only peripheral orexigenic hormone that activates the receptors to be found especially in the appetite center (hypothalamus and pituitary gland). ghrelin is present in human plasma in two forms: an inactive form known as deacylated ghrelin, and an active form called acylated ghrelin synthesized under the action of ghrelin O-acyltransferase enzyme (gOAT). The literature even mentions an extremely complex ghrelin/gOAT/ghsR system involved in the regulation of human energy, metabolism and adaptation of energy homeostasis to environmental changes. In humans, there is a preprandial rise and a postprandial fall in plasma ghrelin levels, which strongly suggest that the peptide plays a physiological role in meal initiation and may be employed in determining the amount and quality of ingested food. Besides the stimulation of food intake, ghrelin determines a decrease in energy expenditure and promotes the storage of fatty acids in adipocytes. Thus, in the human body ghrelin induces a positive energy balance, an increased adiposity gain, as well as an increase in caloric storage, seen as an adaptive mechanism to caloric restriction conditions. In the current world context, when we are witnessing an increasing availability of food and a reduction of energy expenditure to a minimum level, these mechanisms have become pathogenic. As a consequence, the hypothesis that ghrelin is involved in the current obesity epidemic has been embraced by many scholars and researchers

We conducted a narrative review on the interaction between dietary patterns with demographic and lifestyle variables in relation to health status assessment. The food pattern has the advantage of taking into account the correlations that may exist between foods or groups of foods, but also between nutrients. It is an alternative and complementary approach in analysing the relationship between nutrition and the risk of chronic diseases. For the determination of dietary patterns one can use indices/scores that evaluate the conformity of the diet with the nutrition guidelines or the established patterns (a priori approach). The methods more commonly used are based on exploratory data (a posteriori): cluster analysis and factor analysis. Dietary patterns may vary according to sex, socio-economic status, ethnicity, culture and other factors, but more, they may vary depending on different associations between these factors. The dietary pattern exerts its effects on health in a synergistic way or even in conjunction with other lifestyle factors, and we can therefore refer to a ‘pattern of lifestyle’.

(1) Background: Obesity, part of the triple global burden of disease, is increasingly attracting research on its preventive and curative management. Knowledge of eating behavior can be useful both at the individual level (to individualize treatment for obesity) and the population level (to implement more suitable food policies). The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) is a widely used international tool to assess eating behavior, i.e., emotional, external and restricted eating styles. The aim of this study was to validate the Romanian version of DEBQ, as obesity is a major concern in Romania. (2) Methods: Our study tested the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of DEBQ on an adult population and explored the associations of eating behavior with weight status (3) Results: The study showed a factor load similar to the original version of the questionnaire and a very good internal validity (Cronbach’s alpha fidelity coefficient greater than 0.8 for all scales of the questionnaire) for the Romanian version of DEBQ and showed that all of the scales positively correlated with body mass index in both men and women. (4) Conclusions: This study will enable the use of the DEBQ Romanian version on the adult population of Romania where the findings could be incorporated into developing better strategies to reduce the burden of nutrition-related diseases.

Irisin is a novel hormone that provides a possible solution for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Discovered in 2012 by Boström et al., irisin very quickly became an interesting subject in medical research. Irisin has been found in cerebrospinal fluid, the cerebellum, thyroid, pineal gland, liver, pancreas, testis, spleen, adult stomach, and human fetuses. Regarding the actions of irisin, both in animals and humans, the results are contradictory but interesting. Its capability to influence adipose tissue and glycemic homeostasis may be utilized in order to treat hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, and other endocrine and metabolic disorders. Considering its osteogenic potential, irisin might be a therapeutic choice in diseases caused by a sedentary lifestyle. New data indicate that irisin treatment may serve in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection. Furthermore, several therapeutic agents, such as insulin, metformin, fenofibrate, exenatide, and melatonin, influence the concentrations of irisin in animal models or in humans. Nutritional factors including polyunsaturated fatty acids may also have an effect on irisin concentrations. While it may be “too good to be true,” irisin offers many opportunities for future research that would aim to find its optimal therapeutical role in endocrine and metabolic diseases.

The health of a population is a social asset. The individual and the society contribute to it through biology and behaviour, environment and health systems. An ethical and responsible conduct from all parties is expected but difficult to legislate while seeking to respect personal and collective rights and freedoms. Out of all chronic diseases related to lifestyle, obesity is the best example to give when discussing if individuals are the only ones responsible for engaging in healthy behaviours or not, or whether environmental factors undermine their ability to act in their best interest and erode their freedom. It is still a controversial issue if the heath systems resources could be distributed according to the personal responsibility for health. The aim of this article is to review literature data about personal and social responsibility in relation to obesity.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum uric acid levels are significantly associated with the parameters that contribute to the metabolic syndrome in a rural community from Iasi County, Romania. We observed that the components associated most with the serum levels of uric acid were body mass index, triglycerides, waist circumference and hip circumference. Significant correlations were found for the levels of uric acid and total cholesterol, fasting glycemia, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The observed correlations point to uric acid as a potential marker of the metabolic syndrome.