Implications of adipocyte dysfunction in pediatric obesity: a narrative review.

Obesity is a significant inflammatory disease that has become increasingly prevalent among children from different ethnic groups. Lifestyle choices, diet, and maternal obesity are key contributors to its development. This condition is associated with metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, due to chronic low-grade inflammation, even in children. Adipose tissue contributes to this inflammatory profile through increased infiltration of immune cells and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this narrative review, we summarize the current and limited understanding of adipose tissue development and expansion in children, as well as emerging evidence suggesting that maternal obesity may significantly influence the offspring's metabolic profile.