Pathways involved in lipid-induced insulin resistance in obesity

The rapid rise in the incidence of obesity has led to an epidemic of insulin resistance that is a key contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. Since insulin resistance precedes the development of these diseases by up to a decade, a critical area of research is to understand the mechanisms behind this condition. The development of insulin resistance has been causally related to the dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism and ectopic lipid deposition in peripheral tissues regulating glucose homeostasis, such as skeletal muscle and liver. The focus of this review is to discuss the mechanisms contributing to these defects, the key lipids involved and current and future therapies that may stem the tide of lipid-induced insulin resistance in obesity.