The adipose organ / Saverio Cinti and Roberto Vettor -- Adipose tissue as endocrine organ / Kerry B. Goralski and Christopher J. Sinal -- Epidemiology of obesity / Michael J. LaMonte -- Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators secreted by adipose tissue / Herbert Tilg and Alexander R. Moschen -- Adipokines and inflammation / Melissa E. Gove and Giamila Fantuzzi -- Insulin as modulator of adipose inflammation / Joseph Doria and Ahmad Aljada -- Growth hormone as modulator of adipose inflammation / Hong-Biao Liu -- Glucocorticoids as modulators of adipose inflammation / Nicholas M. Morton -- Prostaglandins as mediators of adipose inflammation / Martha Lappas -- Inflammatory actions of adiponectin, leptin, and resistin / Danielle M. Stringer. [et al.] -- Dietary fatty acids as modulators of adipose inflammation / Maximilian Zeyda and Thomas M. Stulnig -- Anti-inflammatory properties of plant sterols and phytoestrogens : experimental and clinical evidence / Rgia A. Othman and Mohammed H. Moghadasian -- Antioxidants, polyphenols, and adipose inflammation / Fereidoon Shahidi and Ying Zhong -- Role of exercise and weight loss in reducing inflammation / Tongian You and Michael J. LaMonte -- Adipose tissue and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy / Peter G. Bradford and Atif B. Awad -- Conclusions and future directions / Peter G. Bradford and Atif B. Awad.