Your friends and family will probably appreciate you substantial weight loss – But your cells may resist the change.
New research has shown Obesity can trigger genetic modifications within fat cells that allow the cells to store “memories” of being overweight in their nuclei and make it easier for the body to gain the pounds back.
“We have found the molecular basis for the yo-yo effect,” said Ferdinand von Meyen, professor of nutrition and metabolic epigenetics at ETH Zurich University in Switzerland.
yo-yo dieting – A constant pattern of losing and gaining weight – common in American culture due to popularity fad diets And quick weight loss solutions.
Examining mice, the ETH Zurich researchers observed that obesity causes genetic changes in the nuclei of fat cells that persist even after weight loss through diet.
They confirmed these changes in humans by analyzing the fat tissue of people who had their stomachs reduced or Gastric Bypass Procedures,
their conclusions were Published on Monday in the journal Nature,
The new study makes it unclear how long fat cells can remember obesity.
“Fat cells are long-lived cells. “They live an average of 10 years before our bodies replace them with new cells,” said Laura Hinte, a doctoral student in von Mayen’s group.
It is also unknown whether other cells such as those in the brain, blood vessels and other organs can remember obesity.
“Other cells in the body may also play a role in the yo-yo effect,” von Mayen said.
Unfortunately, researchers say the drugs cannot reverse modifications within the cell nucleus and erase the “memory” of obesity.
“Maybe this is something we’ll be able to do in the future,” Hinte shared. “But for now, we have to live with this memory effect.”
Von Mayen added: “It is because of this memory effect that it is so important to avoid being overweight in the first place. Because it’s the easiest way to deal with the yo-yo phenomenon.”
His advice comes as the obesity epidemic continues to grow – research finds More than 40% of American adults and nearly 20% of American children are obese.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk significantly. More than a dozen types of cancerInvolved breastColon, kidney, liver, pancreatic and ovarian cancer.
This also increases the possibility of development heart diseasetype 2 diabetes, high cholesterolbreathing problems, joint issues And depression.
