Posts Tagged ‘fat cells’

New research shows that obesity is redefining our lives. Fat cells are being found to be extraordinarily dynamic and complex. They are influential and affect an array of important body functions.                                     

Fat cells are sending out potent chemical signals to the brain, liver, muscles, reproductive organs, and immune system. Scientists have discovered 20 new hormones and other previously unknown substances secreted by human fat cells. When you have either enlarged fat cells or too many fat cells, because you gained weight the danger is that the excessive amounts of these substances begin to damage blood vessels and impair function.

Fat is associated with gut fat or enlarged abdomens. When a pound of fat forms in the body it means that a mile of new blood vessels will form. This is called angiogenesis. Also, fat has an infinite capacity to make more of it. 

Crossing over from an annoyance to a disaster, fat fits into the category of powerful health disruptors.

“In the old days, people used to think fat tissue was a passive organ,” said Rexford S. Ahima, an endocrinologist at the University of Pennsylvania. “Now it’s obvious that it makes and secretes more hormones and problems than probably any other organ. It’s at the center of a very complex system. It coordinates how much we eat, how much energy we burn, how the immune system works, how we reproduce.”

Fat stores pesticides, preservatives, MSG, artificial colors and flavorings, and artificial sweeteners which all can cause weight gain.

Fat plays a leadership role in the cost of health care, and our physical wellbeing. Our national growth may very well depend on the size of our citizens. There doesn’t appear to be a simple solution. Government can’t mandate weigh loss. However, obesity may dramatically redefine our lives individually.

Theoretically we are embracing being fit, specifically we are into expansion. The evolution of a fat nation is market driven. The paradigm shift is what our economy now depends on. Food manufactures are well into the game and tagging along are the pharmaceutical companies.

Our economy is boosted by the revenue generating from these two giants. Obesity is a fair-trade item; being exported around the world.

Being called fatty is not the problem. It isn’t even being charged for two airline seats, or being asked to get off the flight. It is that by being a fatty, you’re on fire literally and figuratively.

Those extra pounds cause inflammation, which is akin to a fire within. The consequence of this is chronic health conditions, and accelerated aging. Your shape is the precursor of things to come.

Appearance

The outward appearance is the least of the problem. What is of concern is the increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer risk. Your weight is a precise and accurate measurement of your loss in function, not gain.

There is a debate going on that says you can be overweight and healthy. That is true, but you can’t rely on this fact to be consistent. The reason is that most people who are overweight rely on inflammatory foods for nutrition.

Health

Health is not related in a positive way to obesity. It is a sub-group that has outstanding health and is grossly overweight. In a study published in the May 2009 “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology” it suggested an increased occurrence of food allergies may be liked to the rising rate of childhood obesity. It is known that obesity is associated with a greater development of atopic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Also a 59 percent increase in food sensitization was noted. “The analysis of continuous Body Mass Index (BMI) with total igE levels supports the concept that increased weight is associated with increased allergic predisposition.” IgE is a class of antibodies produced in the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes and responsible for allergic reactions.

Medical research suggests that obesity (BMI), allergy (igE) and inflammation (C – reactive protein) are related. Inflammation is the foundation for the development of allergies, and degenerative diseases.

Fat Cells

Fat cells produce inflammatory hormones. The question scientists ask is whether inflammation precedes obesity or obesity leads to inflammation and allergy. This is like asking which came first the chicken or egg. Of course inflammation is a cause of obesity, and obesity sets you up for more inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle is the answer to both possible scenarios.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2005-2006, were analyzed and the key findings were:

• Allergies are more prevalent among obese and overweight children.
• Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation.
• Allergy is also associated with inflammation.

Aging

There are a lot of people who are aging and manage to remain healthy. These people can gain weight with less repercussions. It is even thought to be protective to put on a few pounds.

The aging population is the first generation of pill poppers, which say that they have serious afflictions. So their extra weight is not necessarily good if it is coming from nutrient deficient foods. Seniors are also suffering from inflammatory conditions, which are being treated with pharmaceuticals.

Conclusion

Being overweight is less about appearance and more about substance. The effect of the extra fat is where the problem resides. Obesity is associated with chronic, low-level inflammation in fatty tissue. Double jeopardy is when you see it and then do nothing about it. Seeing the weight as a cosmetic issue doesn’t make sense, when everything points to a lifetime of nagging health problems. That is the real shape of things to come.

When a house is on fire you get out, when your body is on fire you stay and put it out.