Fat cells remember obesity makes weight loss harder to maintain, research finds
Many factors lead to a frustrating cycle of weight gain and weight loss – but the driving force may be fat cells to keep Memory obesity.
This is based on the latest research originally published in the journal Nature last fall.
The researchers say fat cells affect abnormal metabolic pathways in the body long after they spread out, which may make people more likely to recover.
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Research results
The Swiss team of scientists is curious if Recover weight After losing weight, it is due to “metabolic memory” that the body remembers and strives to return to its previous obesity state.
Many factors lead to a frustrating cycle of weight gain and weight loss – but the driving force may be that fat cells keep obesity memories. (iStock)
They analyzed chemical markers on adipocytes of mice fed a high-fat diet. Next, when the mice were fed only standard meals, the researchers analyzed the adipose tissue after losing weight.
The team then compared the samples to a slim mouse group, which were fed a standard meal to see if chemical markers on adipocytes were associated with unhealthy changes in the body.
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After weight loss, mice on high-fat diets continue to be unhealthy metabolism, including difficulties in regulating sugar metabolism, more inflammation and abnormal fat storage.
The researchers found that previously obese mice ate a high-fat diet compared to the control group, indicating a persistent loss of metabolism after weight loss.
Previously obese mice ate a high-fat diet compared to the control group, which indicated persistent metabolism impairment after weight loss. (iStock)
The study also examined human samples, analyzing how genes in adipocytes lead to unhealthy changes in the body as they did in mice.
The researchers analyzed the adipose tissue of participants before and after undergoing bariatric surgery and compared it with adipocytes from lean individuals without a history of obesity.
“This recent study shows that after someone loses weight, their fat cells are not completely back to 'normal'.”
In obese individuals, the genes of adipocytes continue to work abnormally in the body, resulting in more inflammation and metabolic problems after two years of weight loss.
One limitation of the study is that it looks at only one cell – adipocytes. The researchers acknowledge that more studies are needed to determine whether other cells or tissues in the body still maintain memory of overweight.
“Complex combination” of factors
Gretchen Zimmermann, registered dietitian and vice president of clinical strategy at VIDA Health, a virtual obesity health provider, confirmed that fat cells do have memory of obesity, which can make it easier to reweight and stay in a state that promotes inflammation and metabolic problems. (She is not part of the research.)
“This recent study shows that after someone loses weight, their fat cells are not completely back to 'normal'.” Zimmermann told Fox News Digital.
The researchers analyzed the adipose tissue of participants before and after undergoing bariatric surgery and compared it with adipocytes from lean individuals without a history of obesity. (iStock)
But while biology plays a crucial role in obesity, that’s not everything, she warned.
““Genetics, biology, environment, psychology, drug and social determinants all shape obesity,” Zimmermann said.
“Continue moving, eat real food and build muscle.”
Healthy habits can offset the genetics that promote weight gain.
Ideally, this requires physical exercise (including strength training), a combination of a sufficient amount of protein and fiber, and the plant's phytonutrients that can resist oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, experts say.
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“Keep going, eat real food and build muscle,” she said.
“These behaviors reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar control, help a healthy microbiome and protect metabolism – even if the weight loss is not much or remains the same.”
Healthy habits can offset the genetics that promote weight gain, researchers say. (iStock)
However, for some people, the potential problem may be EpigeneticsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this involves how a person’s behavior and surrounding environment affect how genes work in the body.
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“Obacteria is a chronic recurrence condition with epigenetic causes,” said Caroline Apovian, Ph.D., a medical professor at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Healthcare at the Tan and Women's Hospital.
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Apovian, who was not involved in the study, said those who were more likely to store calories could lose weight and lose weight through diet and exercise than possible time.
Fox News Digital approached the study authors to comment.
