The intertwined epidemics of obesity and related disorders such as
hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and subsequent cardiovascular
disease pose a major public health challenge. To meet this challenge, we must
understand the interplay between adipose tissue and the vasculature.
Microvascular dysfunction is important not only in the development of obesityrelated
target-organ damage, but also in the development of cardiovascular risk
factors such as hypertension and insulin resistance. The present chapter
examines the role of microvascular dysfunction as an explanation for the
associations among obesity, hypertension and impaired insulin-mediated
glucose disposal. We also discuss communicative pathways from adipose tissue
to the microcirculation.
Keywords: Obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, microcirculation.
