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Fat is Beginning to Make Sense
Dr.Peter W. Kujtan
Medicine Matters
For thousands of years the basic premise of human survival
depended on the ability to conserve body mass. Obesity was rare,
and did not really aid survival. Obese people tend to suffer more
heart disease, diabetes and other conditions. Canadians are in a
minority situation on this planet. We consider ourselves
“fortunate” to have access to a constant, varied and overabundant
supply of items for ingestion. This is really a deviation from the
“normal” human condition. In our environment, we are free to
“enjoy” food, a function of our higher brain center. This emotion
often overwhelms the more primitive signals which indicate that
we have consumed enough. Our children are afflicted with the
effects of obesity in record numbers.
To understand obesity, you need to understand the functioning
of fat cells. A new understanding into how these cells interact is
emerging. It seems that we truly are what we eat. You don’t get
diabetes by eating too much sugar, and eating fatty foods is not the
cause of obesity. All foods are broken down to their basic
elements which are used to rebuild and fuel our bodies. Fat cells
are the newest organ, because they collectively communicate,
interact and perform a unique function. It is now accepted that fat
cells can multiply if extra fat storage is required. When this ability
is activated in childhood by overeating, future adverse health can
result.
The foods we eat are broken down into components and the fat
is stored in fat cells. It is then metabolized and released into the
blood stream as fatty acids. Fat cells also secrete numerous
messengers. Leptin is produced to signal the brain that the cell is
full. The brain then turns off food cravings. Chronic overeating
can desensitize this process. Fat cells also produce Resistin, which
can contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes. Other substances
such as Adiponectin can result in beneficial anti-inflammatory
effects. Fat cells also make other unique substances such as
Tumor Necrosis Factor and Angiotensinogen. All of these seem to
interact to maintain our body weight. It is a remarkably efficient
system. This system has the ability to regulate and maintain our
weight to within a few ounces. Altering the sensitivity of this
system by as little as two percent is enough to result in obesity
within five years.
Uncovering the physiology of this system will no doubt result
in new weight reduction agents. Exercise and sensible eating is
still the only way of achieving healthy weight loss. Reduction must
come slowly for benefits to be obtained. The other message is that
there is no such thing as a diet. To lose weight, permanent
changes to what, when and how you eat must be made. Burning
fat instead of sugar is a last resort for body survival. It produces
ketone type substances which are thought to be harmful, and
should be done with appropriate monitoring and advice.