Simple obesity and renal function.

Increasing evidence accumulate to suggest that obesity increases the risk of chronic kidney disease independently of dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension. This so-called obesity-related glomerulopathy is characterized at early stages by glomerular hypertrophy with or without secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Since, however, kidney biopsies are usually not performed at this phase, an early diagnosis of the disease is often difficult. Here, we review new developments in the pathophysiology of obesity-associated kidney dysfunction and discuss the potential of appropriate monitoring of glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria for early detection of the disease. We also present the benefits conferred by even moderate dietary restriction on the course of the disease.