Increased metabolism slowness in fat tissues linked to potential health implications for obesity
Revised Article:
Having a hefty figure isn't just a matter of looks—it can seriously impact your health. A fresh investigation has uncovered how obesity affects metabolism and gene expression in both muscle and fat tissue.
The study finds that individuals who are obese have weakened energy metabolism and heightened inflammation in both muscle and fat tissues. Interestingly, the adverse health effects seem to originate from the changes in fat tissue, rather than those in muscle.
Obesity and its related health concerns are growing issues globally, with the World Health Organization reporting that in 2016, over adults were obese. Each year, obesity and being overweight claim the lives of more people compared to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
Although the health risks of obesity are well-known, peoples' weights continue to climb throughout the world. A study found that between 1980 and 2015, the prevalence of obesity doubled in over 70 countries and steadily increased in most others.
Researchers face a significant challenge in understanding the role of gene versus lifestyle factors in the progression of obesity and its effects on health.
To tackle this, a team of scientists, led by two from the Obesity Research Unit at the University of Helsinki, squeezed out some ingenious insights. By studying 49 pairs of identical twins with vastly different body mass index readings, they effectively removed the effects of genes from the equation.
By analyzing blood samples and biopsies of fat and muscle tissue, this team of researchers discovered that mitochondrial activity was reduced in the muscle and fat tissue of those experiencing obesity. This change was more significant in fat tissue compared to muscle tissue.
Furthermore, there was increased inflammation in the tissue from the obese twins, in comparison to their lean counterparts. Although inflammation was present in both tissues, it was the fat tissue that showed greater association with adverse health effects, including fatty liver disease and insulin resistance.
To explain their findings, the researchers likened mitochondria to the engine of a car. They theorize that, just as a car's power output decreases as weight increases, the underperforming mitochondria in obesity produce more reactive oxygen species, contributing to inflammation and, consequently, diseases associated with obesity.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that the mitochondrial pathways in muscle had no association with these adverse health effects. Another significant discovery was that mitochondria in the fat and muscle tissue of individuals with obesity were less efficient at breaking down amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
The researchers contend that, in individuals with obesity, an abundance of nutrients may disturb the balance between catabolic and anabolic processes, reactions that break down and assemble organic molecules, respectively. As a result, cells in these tissues increase their internal communication and activate emergency responses such as inflammation.
However, the study's main limitation was its cross-sectional design, meaning that it focused on a single point in time. Although the study identified associations between obesity and various metabolic and health measures, it could not prove that any causal relationships existed.
- This study reveals that obesity significantly impacts health, particularly by weakening energy metabolism and escalating inflammation in both muscle and fat tissues.
- As obesity and related health concerns like chronic diseases, type-2 diabetes, and health-and-wellness issues persist globally, researchers are faced with the challenge of understanding the role of gene versus lifestyle factors in its progression.
- The findings from the study suggest that the reduced mitochondrial activity in muscle and fat tissue of those experiencing obesity, particularly in fat tissue, contributes to increased inflammation and adverse health effects such as fatty liver disease and insulin resistance.
- The research posits that an overabundance of nutrients in individuals with obesity may disrupt the balance between catabolic and anabolic processes, leading to increased cell communication and emergency responses like inflammation.
