: Obesity adversely affects bone health by means of multiple mechanisms, e.g., alterations in bone-regulating hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Substantial evidence supports the relationship between adiposity and bone disorders in overweight/obese individuals. It is well known that the balance between mutually exclusive differentiation of progenitor cells into osteoblasts or adipocytes is controlled by different agents, including growth factors, hormones, genetic and epigenetic factors. Furthermore, an association between vitamin D deficiency and obesity has been reported. On the other hand, regular physical activity plays a key role in weight control, in the reduction of obesity-associated risks and promotes osteogenesis. The aim of this review is to highlight relevant cellular and molecular aspects for over-weight containment. In this context, the modulation of progenitor cells during differentiation as well as the role of epigenetics and microbiota in obesity disease will be discussed. Furthermore, lifestyle changes including an optimized diet as well as targeted physical activity will be suggested as strategies for the treatment of obesity disease.
Keywords: diet; differentiation; mesenchymal stem cells; obesity; physical activity.