Obesity & Inflammation: Understanding the Impact on Rheumatic Disease

Explore the complex relationship between obesity, inflammation, and rheumatic disease—and how excess adiposity may influence disease development, severity, treatment response, and patient outcomes. In this expert-led discussion, leading clinicians and researchers examine how obesity can accelerate inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic disease through metabolic, biomechanical, and immunologic pathways. The panel explores the biology of adipose tissue and its role in systemic inflammation, including how obesity affects disease risk and progression, response to rheumatologic therapies, and the potential for weight loss and other interventions to reduce inflammation and improve clinical outcomes. Expert Faculty: • Juliana Simonetti, MD • Lihi Eder, MD, PhD • Naveed Sattar, MD, PhD • Lee Kaplan, MD, PhD • Jack Cush, MD — Moderator