"Mens sana in corpore sano": exercise and hypothalamic ER stress

Exercise is a mainstay recommendation for fending off obesity and preventing diabetes, cardiovascular problems, or simply to release stress. Although physicians are certain about the many health benefits of exercise, especially for obese patients, a satisfying explanation for why exercise leads to long-term improvements in health profiles isn't nearly as clear. More obviously, exercise can tip the positive imbalance between energy acquisition and energy expenditure (Figure 1) [1]–[5] that can eventually result in obesity. In Western countries, levels of obesity and its related metabolic disorders are increasing at a rate that is considered of epidemic proportions. Although the increasing prevalence of obesity is anticipated by a combination of genetic predisposition and social and environmental factors, working out the precise contributions is fundamental to understanding the basic molecular mechanisms controlling energy balance.