Posted on 08/01/2017 1:23:31 PM PDT by Red Badger
Scientists at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute have found a mechanism by which the brain coordinates feeding with energy expenditure, solving a puzzle that has previously eluded researchers and offering a potential novel target for the treatment of obesity.
Obesity - a major risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver disease and several cancers - is at epidemic levels in Australia.
Researchers from the Metabolic Disease and Obesity Program have shown in laboratory models that feeding controls the 'browning' of fat, that is, the conversion of white fat, which stores energy, into brown fat, which expends it. Fat in the human body is stored in specialised cells called adipocytes, which can change from white to brown states and back again.
Their study, published in Cell Metabolism today, shows that after a meal the brain responds to circulating insulin, which is increased after a rise in blood glucose. The brain then sends signals to promote the browning of fat to expend energy. By contrast, after a fast, the brain instructs these browned adipocytes to once more convert into white adipocytes, storing energy. These processes help prevent both excess weight gain and excess weight loss in response to feeding and fasting, meaning body weight remains relatively stable over time.
The researchers showed that the brain's ability to sense insulin and coordinate feeding with energy expenditure via browning is controlled by a switch-like mechanism turned on after fasting to inhibit the response to insulin, repressing browning and conserving energy, and turned off after feeding to facilitate the insulin response to promote browning and to expend energy.
"What happens in the context of obesity is that the switch stays on all the time - it doesn't turn on off during feeding," lead researcher Professor Tony Tiganis said.
"As a consequence, browning is turned off all the time and energy expenditure is decreased all the time, so when you eat, you don't see a commensurate increase in energy expenditure - and that promotes weight gain," Professor Tiganis said.
Previous investigations by the researchers that showed how the brain coordinates white adipose tissue browning attracted considerable attention after it was published in early 2015.
"For a long time, the missing piece to the puzzle was always why this occurs in the body," first author Dr Garron Dodd said.
"We've shown not only why this occurs but also the fundamental mechanism involved. It's very exciting," Dr Dodd said.
The researchers are further exploring the possibility of inhibiting the switch for therapeutic purposes to promote the shedding of excess fat.
"Obesity is a major and leading factor in overall disease burden worldwide and is poised, for the first time in modern history, to lead to falls in overall life expectancy," Professor Tiganis said.
"What our studies have shown is that there is a fundamental mechanism at play that normally ensures that energy expenditure is matched with energy intake. When this is defective, you put on more weight. Potentially we may be able to rewire this mechanism to promote energy expenditure and weight loss in obese individuals. But any potential therapy is a long way off," he said.
How, indeed. Must be...whitezilla!
Exercise certainly burns fat. But it also increases your appetite. The reason you lost weight is because you were working. You could not go off and raid the refrigerator. When you were not working, you could.
Your body is more than a mathematical calculation of intake minus exercise plus storage. The reality is there is more to it. First there is desire to eat. Hunger plays a big part in how much you eat. Some of us are more hungry, more often. Second there is burn, store, or release.
Your body can burn calories, store calories or simply release them. Sometimes you burn them for no purpose other than to get rid of extra calories. Alcohol gets burned first even before sugar which is burned second. You tend to get hot like with a hang over. You can only really store fat. So if you never eat fat, or if you never eat carbs you can also lose weight. That’s because your body tries to use up sugar first. In doing so, it stores the fat for later. You can’t store sugar. Except by storing protein in muscles and converting the protein to sugar later. But that happens in the absence of fat and sugar.
So, if you can remove food by going to work, You can lose weight. You can eat no carbs and lose weight. Or you can eat only carbs and lose weight. But what ever you do don’t listen to those who say everything in moderation. Moderation is the worst thing for losing weight. That gives you just enough exercise to get hungry. Just enough carbs to store fat. And just enough fat to store. Moderation sounds good, but its not a diet that works for anyone.
Same with all cures.
He’s probably obsessed with food. Surgery won’t help if you eat like ten people.
One way to lose weight is not to eat less but to sh*t more.
You can gum up the switch with ice cream.
Currently eating a bowl of chocolate chip ice cream.
You are right on the money about insulin. Intermittent Fasting is fantastic. I’m gradually losing a couple of pounds per month and I’m eating normal stuff.
Dr. Jason Fung did a series about IF on YouTube which is based on his research and experience as a kidney doctor. I highly recommend it.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...she's right. But probably not for the reason she thinks. It's the refined, highly processed carbohydrates that cause insulin levels to spike...diabetic or not.
Check out this article. Lots of great info. Written by Drs. with decades of experience in the field.
Time-Restricted Eating – a Detailed Intermittent Fasting Guide
Absolutely. My eyes have been opened after reading Dr. Fung's book. I've been struggling just to lose 5-10 pounds for a couple of years. Reduced diet and increased exercise didn't work. I started IF two weeks ago and have lost 6 pounds already. I do expect to plateau but persistence will win out.
The first thing I had to do was get my head right and accept the fact that I can no longer eat the way I used to. I don't look at chili dogs the same way. Or potato salad. Once you have the keys, unlock the door and even if it weighs a ton...keep pushing.
One way to lose weight is not to eat less but to SHARE more.......................
Okay, That’s better! I feel much safer now...................
I do what I can...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.