Obesity is a global pandemic. NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies researchers reviewed recent research evaluating the link between obesity and nerve damage and possible treatment options. They found the following:
- As obesity increases worldwide, neuropathy is also expected to rise. Neuropathy not only worsens depression and quality of life but also causes significant disability, making it harder for people to exercise and potentially worsening obesity.
- Obesity-induced neuropathy occurs when excess fats and sugars build up and cause injury to nerves, causing inflammation and cell death. Unfortunately, the best time to intervene to stop this process isn’t clear.
- Treatments to improve or slow down neuropathy in obese individuals mainly focus on diet and exercise, which are effective but often limited by patient compliance. Surgical weight loss might help slow the progression of neuropathy, but information regarding medical weight loss treatments like GLP-1RA medications is limited.
“Studies show that, in addition to diabetes, obesity is also connected to the development of neuropathy, even without high blood sugar levels,” explained Brian Callaghan, M.D., M.S. “Current research is helping scientists and physicians understand how obesity causes nerve damage as well as the challenges in attempting to reduce obesity-related nerve damage. Promising treatment options include dietary changes, weight loss surgery, and exercise, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and determine the best approach for preventing nerve damage caused by obesity.”
Paper mentioned: Elafros MA, Reynolds EL, Callaghan BC. Obesity-related neuropathy: the new epidemic. Curr Opin Neurol. 2024 Jun 13. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001292.