Chronic Stress-Related Osteosarcopenic Obesity: A Common Modern Syndrome Requiring Sustained Lifestyle Changes and Stress Management

Abstract

Through several pathological mechanisms, chronic stress contributes to the development of “osteosarcopenic obesity”, a clinical syndrome that includes impairments in the structure and function of a patient’s bones, skeletal muscles, and adipose tissue. This syndrome, which could be alternatively called “chronic stress and inflammation syndrome”, has its genesis in early life and, by the age of 50–60 years, affects up to two-thirds of Western populations. Chronic psycho-socioeconomic stress and lifestyle factors, such as a sedentary life, poor quality nutrition, irregular daily schedules, and inadequate sleep, which all act on a genetic and epigenetic predisposition background, play essential pathogenic roles in the development of this widespread syndrome. Key pathogenic mediators are those of the stress system and inflammatory reaction. Lifestyle changes, in combination with stress management, can prevent, arrest, or reverse this debilitating syndrome.