4 minute read
FAT FACTS
INFLAMMATION WEIGHT GAIN CYCLE
Fat Facts By Elizabeth Anderson
The big surprises
Obesity is an epidemic in North America – no surprise.
But did you know that it’s actually low-grade, chronic inflammation that increases appetite, promotes the storage of calories as fat, and initiates the development of insulin resistance and diabetes?
Yup.
Inflammation occurs when the immune system is activated when we are injured, suffer an infection or are exposed to an allergen. Inflammation is the reason an infected cut on a finger gets hot, swollen, and red and and why our eyes and nasal passages swell when we have hay fever. It’s our immune system fighting an insult to the body. Recent studies show that one such
type of inflammation plays a role in causing obesity, while another causes it to worsen if someone is aleady obese.
The weight gain cycle begins with inflammation in the intestines, created when an inflammatory reaction is caused by dietary fat reacting with normal digestive system bacteria. Why this interaction happens in some people and not others is not completely understood, but the resulting chronic low-grade intestinal inflammation definitely favors obesity and insulin resistance. This is one reason that the typical North American high-fat diet is so unhealthy, and why specialized high fat diets (such as the“keto” diet) are fundamentally unsound.
To make things that much more difficult, saturated fats in our diets have been shown to produce inflammation in the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that regulates appetite, disrupting its normal appetite-regulating functions. The result is increased appetite and prolonged obesity.
Like evil twins at work, as the first infection fosters obesity, another type of chronic inflammation comes along that further increases weight gain and slows weight loss. Adults actually have a finite number of fat cells. We don’t add more when we store fat; instead, our existing fat cells each pack in more and enlarge. As the fat cells grow larger and more stretched, inflammation occurs and this type is a major driver of the insulin resistance that promotes the development of diabetes.
As long as a person remains obese this inflammation continues, causing more weight gain and continuing a vicious cycle. Quite simply, the fat get fatter. Losing weight, preventing bloating and cramping and increasing energy are certainly great reasons for fighting fat. And of course, obesity poses far more serious risks for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. Individuals with higher levels of inflammation within their bodies tend to have an increased risk of having a heart attack. The key is to find ways to end this inflammation-weight gain cycle.
Quite simply, the fat get fatter.
Changing unhealthy sleep patterns, reducing stress and increasing exercise are all good strategies. But taking a look at diet and inflammation is a great start. By choosing to consume only quality fats (unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids) and by limiting other dietary fats (especially saturated fats and trans-fats), it’s possible to begin to put an end to the intestinal inflammation that drives weight gain, thereby making weight loss and weight control much easier.
There are other inflammation factors to consider, as well. Food intolerances or allergies can be the culprits causing intestinal inflammation, promoting obesity and preventing weight loss. The mechanisms are the same but this inflammation is more high-grade, so it can cause additional problems such as abdominal bloating and cramping. It stimulates the release of the stress hormone cortisol, one of the most potent weight-gain factors, and can leave us feeling unwell on top of the bloating and cramping. Because we feel listless and fatigued, we’re less likely to be active.
Many people have food allergies that are mis-diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Some of the more common food intolerances are to gluten, milk protein, and corn; and a consultation with a specialist is often necessary to correctly identify the problem foods. If you’ve been making an honest effort to lose weight without success, the problem might be a hidden food allergy.
The first step towards better health is a visit to your doctor’s office for a full physical
examination and a discussion about your weight and health concerns. Once you identify them and eliminate the diet culprits, you may find your weight loss results improve immediately and the bloating, cramping and lethargy that has been a part of life for too long could evaporate.
