ABSTRACT
The upsurge of several chronic metabolic comorbidities in the recent times has taken its root from a poor behavioral and/or modifiable lifestyle, of which nutrition is at the forefront. Aging and high BMI, being the direct reflection of such a poor lifestyle, serves as a condition for the development of one (obesity in most cases) or more metabolic morbidities that coexist. Overall, obesity, with high intra-abdominal fat and increased waist circumference, is a metabolic disorder that can independently increase the risk of several metabolic comorbidities, impaired health, and death. A peculiar mechanism with every metabolic disorder involving continuous (T-cell-mediated) release of proinflammatory and/or prothrombotic factors plays a major role in stimulating insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, vascular dysfunction, and dysglycemia, which mediate development of metabolic comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, chronic cancer, liver abnormalities, atherogenic dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Advertently, nutritional approaches, including macronutrient or energy restriction and/or energy deficit with a weight loss effect, are required to reverse or possibly stop the trend. Overall, intermittent fasting coupled with mild energy restriction, especially with plant-based foods as a source of macronutrients, has proven to be more effective in long-term weight loss and the potential decrease in risk of metabolic comorbidity. This chapter focuses on the nutritional approach to the treatment of metabolic co-morbidity.
