Obesity-related endocrine disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.78.57725Keywords
obesity, hypothyroidism, hypercortisolism, hypergonadism, PCOSAbstract
Introduction and Purpose: Several endocrine disorders, including diabetes, insulinoma, Cushing syndrome, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and growth hormone deficiency, are associated with obesity. The mechanisms underlying the development of obesity vary according to the abnormalities of endocrine function. This review examines the hormonal disturbances linked to obesity, extending beyond just diabetes. It explores the prevalence, clinical features, screening, diagnosis, and management of these related conditions.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive survey of articles published in scientific journals was conducted via PubMed and Google Scholar online research platforms. Articles were searched by entering keywords in the appropriate configuration: “obesity,” “hypothyroidism”, “hypercortisolism”, “hypogonadism” and “PCOS”.
Description of current knowledge: Prediabetes and diabetes are the most frequently encountered endocrine conditions by physicians and endocrinologists. Other common endocrine disorders seen in specialty clinics include hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, androgen excess in women, and hypogonadism in men.
Summary: With our expanding knowledge of obesity, it is vital to acknowledge the influential role of fat cells in hormone synthesis. Physicians caring for obese patients should adopt a meticulous approach, screening for hormonal imbalances beyond just diabetes, to ensure comprehensive patient management.
References
[1] S. Tian, X. Zhang, Y. Xu, and H. Dong, “Feasibility of body roundness index for identifying a clustering of cardiometabolic abnormalities compared to BMI, waist circumference and other anthropometric indices,” Aug. 01, 2016, Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000004642.
[2] Z. Xu et al., “Coenzyme Q10 Improves Lipid Metabolism and Ameliorates Obesity by Regulating CaMKII-Mediated PDE4 Inhibition,” Aug. 09, 2017, Nature Portfolio. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08899-7.
[3] K. Watanabe et al., “Multiomic signatures of body mass index identify heterogeneous health phenotypes and responses to a lifestyle intervention,” Mar. 20, 2023, Nature Portfolio. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02248-0.
[4] “Biondi, B. Thyroid and obesity: An intriguing relationship. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2010, 95, 3614–3617. ,”
[5] “Santini, F.; Marzullo, P.; Rotondi, M.; Ceccarini, G.; Pagano, L.; Ippolito, S.; Chiovato, L.; Biondi, B. Mechanisms in endocrinology: The crosstalk between thyroid gland and adipose tissue: Signal integration in health and disease. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 2014, 171, R137–R152.,”
[6] “Rotondi, M.; Cappelli, C.; Leporati, P.; Chytiris, S.; Zerbini, F.; Fonte, R.; Magri, F.; Castellano, M.; Chiovato, L. A hypoechoic pattern of the thyroid at ultrasound does not indicate autoimmune thyroid diseases in patients with morbid obesity. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 2010, 163, 105–109. ,”
[7] “Duntas LH, Biondi B (2013) The interconnections between obesity, thyroid function, and autoimmunity: the multifold role of leptin. Thyroid 23(6):646–653,”
[8] “Ehlers M, Jordan AL, Feldkamp J, Fritzen R, Quadbeck B, Haase M, Allelein S, Schmid C, Schott M (2016) Anti-thyroperoxidase antibody levels >500 IU/ml indicate a moderately increased risk for developing hypothyroidism in autoimmune thyroiditis. Horm Metab Res 48:623–629,”
[9] “Pasquali R., Casanueva F., Haluzik M. i wsp.: European Society of Endocrinology clinical practice guideline: endocrine work-up in obesity. Eur. J. Endocrinol., 2020; 182: G1–G32,”
[10] A. V. Borshuliak et al., “State of hormonal balance in adolescent girls with menstrual function disorders associated with obesity,” Dec. 01, 2021, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy Publishing House. doi: 10.25122/jml-2021-0312.
[11] “Fontenelle LC, Feitosa MM, Severo JS, Freitas TE, Morais JB, Torres-Leal FL, et al. Thyroid function in human obesity: underlying mechanisms. Horm Metab Res. (2016) 48:787–94. 10.1055/s-0042-121421,”
[12] “Longhi S, Radetti G. Thyroid function and obesity. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. (2013) 5(Suppl. 1):40–4. 10.4274/jcrpe.856,”
[13] “Seftel, A. Re: Determinants of testosterone recovery after bariatric surgery: Is it only a matter of reduction of body mass index? J. Urol. 2013, 190, 987.,”
[14] “Mogri, M.; Dhindsa, S.; Quattrin, T.; Ghanim, H.; Dandona, P. Testosterone concentrations in young pubertal and post-pubertal obese males. Clin. Endocrinol. 2013, 78, 593–599.,”
[15] “Chandel, A.; Dhindsa, S.; Topiwala, S.; Chaudhuri, A.; Dandona, P. Testosterone concentration in young patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care 2008, 31, 2013–2017.,”
[16] “Fernandez C.J., Chacko E.C., Pappachan J.M.: Male obesity-related secondary hypogonadism – pathophysiology, clinical implications and management. Eur. Endocrinol., 2019; 15: 83–90,”
[17] “Kelly DM, Jones TH.. Testosterone: a metabolic hormone in health and disease. J Endocrinol. 2013;217:R25–45. doi: 10.1530/JOE-12-0455.,”
[18] “Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Epel ES, White ML, Standen EC, Seckl JR, Tomiyama AJ (2015) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation and cortisol activity in obesity: a systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 62:301–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.014,”
[19] “Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, Hayes FJ, Hodis HN, Matsumoto AM, Snyder PJ, Swerdloff RS, Wu FC, Yialamas MA (2018) Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 103:1715–1744,”
[20] “Clarke H, Dhillo WS, Jayasena CN. Comprehensive review on kisspeptin and its role in reproductive disorders. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2015;30:124–41. doi: 10.3803/EnM.2015.30.2.124.,”
[21] J. A. L. Nasa, “Obesity, Hypogonadism, and Male Fertility—The Role of Diet and Environment,” in Elsevier eBooks, Elsevier BV, 2017, p. 107. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801299-4.00007-4.
[22] “Garvey W.T., Mechanick J.I., Brett E.M. i wsp.: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of En9ocrinology Compreh4ns52e 6linical Practice Guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr. Pract., 2016; 52 (su325. 42:91–2339,”
[23] M. Y. Roth, J. K. Amory, and S. T. Page, “Treatment of male infertility secondary to morbid obesity,” Jun. 03, 2008, Nature Portfolio. doi: 10.1038/ncpendmet0844.
[24] “Steffensen C, Pereira AM, Dekkers OM, Jorgensen JO (2016) DIAGNOSIS of ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Prevalence of hypercortisolism in type 2 diabetes patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 175:R247–R253. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-16-0434,”
[25] “Fassnacht M, Arlt W, Bancos I, Dralle H, Newell-Price J, Sahdev A et al (2016) Management of adrenal incidentalomas: European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors. Eur J Endocrinol 175:G1–G34.,”
[26] “Nieman LK, Biller BM, Findling JW, Newell-Price J, Savage MO, Stewart PM, Montori VM (2008) The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 93:1526–1540. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2008-0125,”
[27] “Davies M.J., Aroda V.R., Collins B.S. i wsp.: Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes, 2022. A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetologia, 2022; 65: 1925–1966,”
[28] “Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group: Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hum. Reprod., 2004; 19: 41–47,”
[29] “McCartney CR, Blank SK, Prendergast KA, Chhabra S, Eagleson CA, Helm KD, Yoo R, Chang RJ, Foster CM, Caprio S et al (2007) Obesity and sex steroid changes across puberty: evidence for marked hyperandrogenemia in pre- and early pubertal obese girls. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92:430–436,”
[30] “Pasquali R, Zanotti L, Fanelli F, Mezzullo M, Fazzini A, MorselliLabate AM, Repaci A, Ribichini D, Gambineri A (2016) Defining hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a challenging perspective. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101:2013–2022,”
[31] “Munzker J, Hofer D, Trummer C, Ulbing M, Harger A, Pieber T, Owen L, Keevil B, Brabant G, Lerchbaum E et al (2015) Testosterone to dihydrotestosterone ratio as a new biomarker for an adverse metabolic phenotype in the polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100:653–660,”
[32] “Legro RS, Arslanian SA, Ehrmann DA, Hoeger KM, Murad MH, Pasquali R, Welt CK, Welt CK & Endocrine Society (2013) Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 98:4565–4592,”
[33] “Moran LJ, Pasquali R, Teede HJ, Hoeger KM, Norman RJ (2009) Treatment of obesity in polycystic ovary syndrome: a position statement of the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society. Fertil Steril. 92:1966–1982,”
[34] “Yildiz BO (2015) Approach to the patient: contraception in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100:794–802. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-3196,”
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Aleksandra Kiełczewska, Anna Kiełczewska, Grzegorz Szcześniak
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The periodical offers access to content in the Open Access system under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 71
Number of citations: 0
