Do You Find Yourself Unable To Lose Those Few Stubborn Pounds? It May Be Because Of A Weakened Metabolism In The Fat Tissue

Obesity is a widespread problem that has been plaguing human society for the last few decades. In the years between 1980 and 2015, the obesity rate in many countries nearly doubled. Obesity affects every aspect of the life of an individual. It reduces physical fitness and increases the risk of the individual developing diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, and other cardiovascular ailments. 

Do You Find Yourself Unable To Lose Those Few Stubborn Pounds? It May Be Because Of A Weakened Metabolism In The Fat Tissue

Reasons behind obesity

For long time obesity was just associated with certain eating habits, but now factors like lifestyle and genetic factors are also being brought into the mix. Issues related to metabolism also deserve due consideration in any discussion about obesity.  

• Some researchers have found that people with obesity generally have slower and weaker energy metabolizing systems in their fat and muscle tissue
• People with obesity also have increased inflammation in their fat and muscle tissue
• But according to researchers the adverse health conditions associated with being over-weight arises out of the weakness in fat tissue metabolism

Obesity and fat tissue metabolism 

For the last few decades, there has been a heavy focus to study the impact of genetics on obesity. But recently the focus is shifting away from genetic factors to inherently weaker metabolic systems in some individuals. A study was conducted at the Obesity Research Institute of Finland under the University of Helsinki to substantiate this hypothesis:

• In the study, 49 pairs of twins were studied who had a different BMI 
• All twins have the same genetic makeup and they also have similar upbringing most of the time, so their BMI differences could be attributed solely to lifestyle-related conditions
• All the research subjects had to undergo many blood tests and their fat tissue and muscle tissue was biopsied
• The study found that in the twins with obesity the metabolic rates were slowed down. The Mitochondria (the power-house of the cell) that produces energy worked much slower in the fat tissue of the obese subjects.
• The subjects with obesity also showed increased inflammation in their muscles when compared to their non-obese twins
• The researchers also found that the weakened mitochondria cause more free radicals to be produced in the body of obese persons. These free radicals then exacerbate the inflammation of tissues. 
• Another important finding of the research was that the weak mitochondria of obese people are not very efficient in breaking down and metabolizing amino acids. Amino acids are the primary components of proteins. As a result, amino acids or other inorganic compounds build up in the blood. It can lead to health issues like diabetes and fatty liver.

The findings of this study should go a long way in removing the social stigma associated with obesity. Obesity is not just a result of poor lifestyle choices, for many people obesity is linked to their body’s metabolic system over which they have no control.

What are the next steps?

A relation between metabolism and obesity has just been tentatively established. But the study at Helsinki was focused on the physical and metabolic parameters of obese persons at a certain point in time. A more prolonged and extensive study needs to be conducted in order to find the exact relation between obesity and weakened metabolism. 

Obesity-related issues take the lives of many people all over the world. Almost 2.8 million lives are lost every single year due to complications arising from severe obesity. The condition of obesity needs to be studied more in-depth, without any prejudice in order to find a solution for the millions who are at risk for developing serious obesity-related health problems. 

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