Are Your Fat Cells Talking to You?

When it came to weight loss, the plight seemed futile. I made unsustainable and short-lived attempts as an adult to correct the situation, yet none made a lasting impact.  I am an autodidact who dropped out of the 10th grade in high school and who had overcome many struggles and traumas throughout my entire childhood and into early adulthood – I’d think to myself often, surely, I can overcome this weight problem, only to be disappointed time after time. Pretty soon, even my belief that I could overcome disappeared from my mind. I finally came to the conclusion that this was insurmountable, and it was my lot in life to die sometime in my early 50’s. In one of my journal entries in 2018 I would write “it feels as if every cell and organ in my body is just working against me”. It’s not in my nature to be depressed, but I was indeed depressed, and I had to come to terms with that.  

I did not know at the time that this feeling can be much more than a feeling; obesity is a slippery slope, and over time it causes several components in our bodies to indeed work against our desires to implement the proper lifestyle changes.  Obesity is a complex condition that involves both genetic and environmental factors, including diet, physical activity, and stress. One key feature of obesity is the abnormal function of adipose tissue, which is responsible for the production of hormones and inflammatory molecules that can have negative effects on metabolic health. 

For example, adipose tissue produces hormones such as leptin and adiponectin, which regulate appetite and insulin sensitivity, respectively. In obesity, the production and function of these hormones can become dysregulated, leading to increased hunger, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. Imagine that: fat tissue producing hormones that improve your ability to get fatter and feel more and more horrible along the way. 

Chronic inflammation, in turn, has been linked to a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Moreover, inflammation can also have negative effects on mental health, as it can contribute to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. 

These metabolic dysfunctions can make it more difficult for individuals with obesity to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, as they may feel more hungry, have lower energy levels, and experience greater cravings for unhealthy foods. Furthermore, the social stigma and discrimination that obese individuals often face can contribute to poor mental health outcomes, which can further undermine their efforts to adopt healthy lifestyle changes. For many obese people, they will even begin to shut down from any social interactions out of embarrassment and more anxiety, making it even more difficult to create an eco-system to promote healthy changes. 

However, it's vital to remember that with the right support and resources, it is possible to overcome these challenges and achieve significant improvements in health outcomes. Lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and seeking support from healthcare professionals, friends, and family, can all contribute to improved metabolic health and well-being. 

I know, I know – this sounds great, but much easier said than done. Make no mistake about it, day one and week one are very hard, but week two and week three are easier… and then, over time, your body begins to spiral again, but this time in a different direction and manner. This time, it begins to operate to help accommodate your efforts and success, as opposed to it working against you. It takes time, but it will happen, and it will happen to you. 

Today, approximately 70% of our nation is overweight and 50% is considered to be obese. I share this article for two reasons, number one if you are obese, then I want you to know what is happening to you and why you feel the way do when it comes to implementing change. If you are like me, it is empowering to know what is going on – when I learned these truths, it made me upset. It upset me in the manner that one would be upset when they find out their home or automobile has been robbed. That anger became fuel for me, and it served me well, I hope it can do that for others.  

The second reason I share this article is that given how high this statistic is, I am sure that if you are not obese, you definitely know someone that is a very close friend and/or even a relative that is obese. Whether it be a sibling, a cousin, or even a spouse, I want to inform you that the battle is not as simple as it may appear to be on the outside looking on.  Instead of enabling or ignoring the situation, consider being a source of support and encouragement. I realize this may be embarrassing for the obese person, so you may need to find the proper way to do so, but there’s no doubt that encouragement from loved ones will lead to confidence, which will lead to action and of course, which will lead to accomplishment. 

In fact, a recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that intensive lifestyle interventions, such as those that focus on dietary changes and increased physical activity, can lead to significant improvements in metabolic health outcomes in individuals with obesity and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes. 

In conclusion, obesity is a complex condition that involves both metabolic and psychological factors, and it can be challenging for individuals to overcome without the right support and resources. My hope is that by better understanding the underlying mechanisms of obesity and the barriers that individuals with obesity face, you can better support and empower them to make the necessary lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being.   

At the time of writing this, I have lost a little over 200 pounds and have surmounted the hell out of what I once thought was insurmountable. Throughout this journey, I have received sincere encouragement from people that I did not expect it from. However, I have advisedly received zero encouragement from people who I certainly expected it from.  

It is what it is and fortunately, I was able to turn it all into fuel for my fire, but it was not an easy thing to do. It would have been much more empowering to have gotten sincere encouragement from those people. Today, I do my best to encourage anyone and everyone in whatever their plight may be – I encourage you to do the same as you take inventory of those in your immediate circle of influence.  

Sources: 

Gregor MF, Hotamisligil GS. Inflammatory mechanisms in obesity. Annu Rev Immunol. 2011;29:415-445. 

Rosen ED, Spiegelman BM. What we talk about when we talk about fat. Cell. 2014;156(1-2):20-44. 

Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight loss and improvement in comorbidity: differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017;6(2):187-194. 

Lean MEJ, Leslie WS, Barnes AC, et al. Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomized trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;6(5):416-426.