Obesity is one of the main health problems in today’s society. Many overweight people when trying to lose weight suffer what is known as the rebound effect and regain the lost kilos. A study published in the journal ‘Nature’ could explain why this process occurs. Research has revealed that adipose tissue retains a “memory” of obesity, which would cause people to tend to regain weight. This study, led by the Federal Polytechnic School of Zurich (ETH) and with the participation of the Malaga Biomedical Research Institute (IBIMA), indicates that epigenetic changes in fat cells play a key role in this phenomenon.
The team analyzed adipose cells from 18 people without obesity and 20 individuals who underwent a bariatric surgery. They also included mouse cells in the study. The results showed that obesity causes epigenetic alterations in the nucleus of fat cells, and these changes persist even after weight loss.
According to Ferdinand von Meyenn, leader of the study, these modifications allow the “remember” cells the state of overweightwhich facilitates rapid recovery of lost weight when returning to a high-fat diet. This phenomenon, known as the yo-yo effect, was evident in the mice, which gained weight rapidly after being exposed to a caloric diet again.
What is epigenetics
epigenetics It studies how external factors, such as diet or physical condition, can alter the activity of genes without modifying their basic sequence. These changes occur through chemical markers that regulate which genes are active in each cell. Laura Hinte, co-author of the study, explains that “epigenetics tells the cell what type of cell it is and what its function is.” Although these markers are dynamic, some can remain stable for years or even decades, conditioning the body’s response to different stimuli.
The study suggests that this “obesogenic memory” not only affects fat cells, but possibly also other cell types. These epigenetic changes appear to prepare the organism for pathological responses, contributing to long-term diet failure. The researchers consider that, if in the future it is possible to act on these epigenetic modifications, it would be possible to improve weight management and reduce the risk of diseases associated with obesity.
The research, which has had the collaboration of Daniel Castellano-Castillo, a researcher at IBIMA, points out the importance of understanding obesity from an epigenetic perspective. This approach could open new avenues to design more effective treatments, capable of breaking the rebound effect cycle.
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What is the significance of epigenetics in understanding the causes and treatments of obesity?
1. Could you please explain to our readers what obesity epigenetics is and how it relates to weight loss and regain?
2. Can you elaborate on the study conducted at the Federal Polytechnic School of Zurich and the Malaga Biomedical Research Institute, and what were the key findings of this research?
3. What role did the participants in the study play, and how did this affect the results?
4. How does this study’s finding compare to previous research on obesity and weight loss?
5. What are some potential implications of these findings for those struggling with obesity and its associated diseases?
6. As an expert in the field, what are some alternative approaches or treatments that could be effective in breaking the rebound effect cycle and achieving sustained weight loss?
7. In what ways does this study contribute to our understanding of obesity and its long-term effects on the body, and how could this knowledge be applied in the future?
8. As a professional in the healthcare industry, what are your thoughts on the importance of incorporating epigenetics into obesity treatments and management strategies?
