At the onset of the twenty-first century, obesity has emerged as a major global health concern due to its widespread prevalence in modern populations. It is a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, primarily driven by increased caloric intake, reduced energy expenditure, and dysregulation of hunger signals. Obesity is a chronic systemic condition that contributes to numerous health complications, with the most common being type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, sleep apnea, various forms of cancer, and more.
Over the past decade, considerable progress has been made in the pharmacological management of endocrine and metabolic disorders, and several of these new therapies have demonstrated efficacy in treating obesity. Growing evidence suggests that such medications may influence the human gut microbiota—a complex community of commensal bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract—which can impact appetite regulation, mucosal integrity, and nutrient absorption. Understanding this interaction may be pivotal for elucidating the mechanisms underlying obesity and optimizing its treatment.
