Obesity is the culprit behind fatty acid-induced inflammation.

The global prevalence of obesity has emerged as one of the most severe public health challenges of the 21st century. Research conducted over the past decade has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the pathological essence of obesity. Rather than being viewed as a static state of energy accumulation, it is now regarded as a driver of chronic low-grade inflammation. Within this inflammatory process, the composition of dietary fatty acids and metabolic dysregulation plays central roles. The considerable imbalance in the omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio within contemporary dietary structures, in conjunction with elevated saturated fatty acid intake, collectively establishes the metabolic foundation of the inflammatory microenvironment. This paper provides a systematic review of recent research advances, revealing how obesity reshapes the fatty acid metabolism profile, activates multi-organ inflammatory networks, and ultimately forms a vicious cycle of “obesity-fatty acids-inflammation.” This field has seen breakthrough discoveries ranging from gut microbiota-host interactions to immune cell metabolic reprogramming and from adipose tissue endocrine dysfunction to neuroinflammation. These discoveries have not only deepened our understanding of the mechanisms underlying obesity-related complications but also provided novel perspectives for developing precision anti-inflammatory strategies targeting fatty acid metabolism.