Obesity, a disease of
inflammation; researchers suggest
inflammation; researchers suggest
What is wrong with obesity?
OBESITY MAY RAISE MYELOID LEUKEMIA RISK
Researchers studied a pattern they saw among nearly 41,000 people over eight years, in Victoria,
Australia. The researchers checked the height and weight of these people at the study's start to
calculate BMI (body mass index). They also measured participants' waists and muscle mass and
track cases of leukemia and other blood cancers for about eight years.
Leukemia is divided into two main types-- myeloid and lymphoid. The researchers found only an
association between body size and myeloid leukemia. Overweight and obese people (BMI of 25 or
greater) were five times as likely to get myeloid leukemia as those of smaller BMI. For people with
waist sizes over 37 inches, myeloid leukemia risk rose 35% for every 4 extra inches of waist size.
Increased height was not linked to a higher myeloid leukemia risk. Increased muscle mass was also
associated with a higher myeloid leukemia risk.
Sources Increased Body Size Linked to Leukemia, WedMD, August 2, 2005 Myeloid Leukemia Risk
Linked to Obesity HealthDay August 2, 2005
OBESITY IS LINKED TO GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISORDER (GERD)
Researchers concluded that excess weight nearly doubled the risk of GERD symptoms such as
heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain and difficulty swallowing, based on a meta-analysis of
several studies. GERD occurs when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus fails to
close properly. As a result, the contents in the stomach, including stomach acid, can spill up into the
esophagus, leading to erosion of the esophagus or even esophageal cancer.
People who were overweight, defined by a body mass index of 25 to 30, were 1.4 times as likely to
develop GERD symptoms, people who were obese were nearly twice as likely to develop symptoms
compared to those with a healthy body weight. While, people with a body mass index greater than
30 were about three times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those with a healthy body
weight.
There are several explanations for the GERD symptoms and complications: (1) The excessive
weight in the abdomen compresses the stomach and raises the pressure inside, leading to gastric
reflux, (2) abdominal obesity contributes to the release of inflammatory substances. This may raise
the risk of GERD (3) Obese people usually eat excessive amounts of fat and fatty foods, increasing
the risk of GERD,.
Reference Got GERD? Weight Loss May Help HealthDay, August 2, 2005
FRUCTOSE SWEETENER INCREASES BODY FAT, RESEARCH FINDS
Consumption of food products containing sucrose and high-fructose may lead to obesity. Sucrose
and high-fructose are commonly used in sweetened foods, carbonated soft drinks, beverages,
some juices, corn syrup and cereals. A widely used sweetener derived from corn, high-fructose corn
syrup is similar to sucrose (table sugar) in its composition, about half glucose and half fructose.
In a study of mice, Dr. Matthias Tschöp, University of Cincinnati, used magnetic resonance
technology to carefully monitor body fat in mice. He measured the the average weight of the mice to
be 39 grams. After consuming fructose-sweetened water of a period of pre-determined time, the
average weight became 48 grams. This group of mice had about 90 percent more body fat than the
mice that consumed water only.
Sources [1] New link between soft drinks and weight gain, Medical News Today, Univerity of
Cincinnati Jul 31, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------
Some researchers view obesity as a low-grade systemic inflammatory disease. It is because obese
children and adults have elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis
factor-alpha, and leptin. These chemicals are commonly used as markers for inflammation and they
are closely associated with cardiovascular events [1-4]. Besides, plasma concentrations of all
pro-thrombotic factors and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) have been shown to be higher
in obese patients [5]. This may explain why obesity is linked to coagulation and fibrinolysis
abnormalities as well as increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and many other chronic diseases.
Recently, Tongjian You and his group at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have
examined small samples of subcutaneous fat from the abdomen and found that the fat tissues
actually produce interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1.
Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha promote inflammation (as mentioned before), while
plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 promotes blood clots. These are also involved in atherosclerosis,
the buildup of fatty deposits in the linings of blood vessels. They also found that higher levels of the
"bad" proteins, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were associated with a lower ability to
respond to insulin and use glucose. And, low production of adiponectin in subcutaneous fat is linked
with an elevated risk of heart disease.
OBESITY PREVENTION
Pischon T et al found an inverse-association between physical activity and plasma levels of
sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein [2]. Thus, frequent physical activity is
related to lower systemic inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity.
Please, remember that the ideal BMI is 25. Being too thin may
lead to medical complications such as infertility and
osteoporosis. Steve Bloomfield, the Eating Disorders
Association considers anorexia and bulimia as diseases. [A2]
OBESITY PREVENTION-NONTRADITIONAL METHODS
REFERENCES
1. Kaiser T and Schunker H, Cardiovascular changes in obesity, Herz. 2001 May;26(3):194-201.
2. Pischon T et al, Leisure-time physical activity and reduced plasma levels of obesity-related inflammatory markers, Obes Res. 2003
Sep;11(9):1055-64.
3. Das UN , Is obesity an inflammatory condition? Nutrition. 2001 Nov-Dec;17(11-12):953-66.
4. Yudkin JS et al, Inflammation, obesity, stress and coronary heart disease: is interleukin-6 the link?, Atherosclerosis. 2000
Feb;148(2):209-14.
5. De Pergola G et al, Coagulation and fibrinolysis abnormalities in obesity, J Endocrinol Invest. 2002 Nov;25(10):899-904.
6. Fat May Promote Inflammation, New Study Suggests, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Press Release, March 28,
2005 [A2] British charity issues anorexia Internet warning Reuters Sat Jan 6
OBESITY MAY RAISE MYELOID LEUKEMIA RISK
Researchers studied a pattern they saw among nearly 41,000 people over eight years, in Victoria,
Australia. The researchers checked the height and weight of these people at the study's start to
calculate BMI (body mass index). They also measured participants' waists and muscle mass and
track cases of leukemia and other blood cancers for about eight years.
Leukemia is divided into two main types-- myeloid and lymphoid. The researchers found only an
association between body size and myeloid leukemia. Overweight and obese people (BMI of 25 or
greater) were five times as likely to get myeloid leukemia as those of smaller BMI. For people with
waist sizes over 37 inches, myeloid leukemia risk rose 35% for every 4 extra inches of waist size.
Increased height was not linked to a higher myeloid leukemia risk. Increased muscle mass was also
associated with a higher myeloid leukemia risk.
Sources Increased Body Size Linked to Leukemia, WedMD, August 2, 2005 Myeloid Leukemia Risk
Linked to Obesity HealthDay August 2, 2005
OBESITY IS LINKED TO GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISORDER (GERD)
Researchers concluded that excess weight nearly doubled the risk of GERD symptoms such as
heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain and difficulty swallowing, based on a meta-analysis of
several studies. GERD occurs when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus fails to
close properly. As a result, the contents in the stomach, including stomach acid, can spill up into the
esophagus, leading to erosion of the esophagus or even esophageal cancer.
People who were overweight, defined by a body mass index of 25 to 30, were 1.4 times as likely to
develop GERD symptoms, people who were obese were nearly twice as likely to develop symptoms
compared to those with a healthy body weight. While, people with a body mass index greater than
30 were about three times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those with a healthy body
weight.
There are several explanations for the GERD symptoms and complications: (1) The excessive
weight in the abdomen compresses the stomach and raises the pressure inside, leading to gastric
reflux, (2) abdominal obesity contributes to the release of inflammatory substances. This may raise
the risk of GERD (3) Obese people usually eat excessive amounts of fat and fatty foods, increasing
the risk of GERD,.
Reference Got GERD? Weight Loss May Help HealthDay, August 2, 2005
FRUCTOSE SWEETENER INCREASES BODY FAT, RESEARCH FINDS
Consumption of food products containing sucrose and high-fructose may lead to obesity. Sucrose
and high-fructose are commonly used in sweetened foods, carbonated soft drinks, beverages,
some juices, corn syrup and cereals. A widely used sweetener derived from corn, high-fructose corn
syrup is similar to sucrose (table sugar) in its composition, about half glucose and half fructose.
In a study of mice, Dr. Matthias Tschöp, University of Cincinnati, used magnetic resonance
technology to carefully monitor body fat in mice. He measured the the average weight of the mice to
be 39 grams. After consuming fructose-sweetened water of a period of pre-determined time, the
average weight became 48 grams. This group of mice had about 90 percent more body fat than the
mice that consumed water only.
Sources [1] New link between soft drinks and weight gain, Medical News Today, Univerity of
Cincinnati Jul 31, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------
Some researchers view obesity as a low-grade systemic inflammatory disease. It is because obese
children and adults have elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis
factor-alpha, and leptin. These chemicals are commonly used as markers for inflammation and they
are closely associated with cardiovascular events [1-4]. Besides, plasma concentrations of all
pro-thrombotic factors and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) have been shown to be higher
in obese patients [5]. This may explain why obesity is linked to coagulation and fibrinolysis
abnormalities as well as increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and many other chronic diseases.
Recently, Tongjian You and his group at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have
examined small samples of subcutaneous fat from the abdomen and found that the fat tissues
actually produce interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1.
Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha promote inflammation (as mentioned before), while
plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 promotes blood clots. These are also involved in atherosclerosis,
the buildup of fatty deposits in the linings of blood vessels. They also found that higher levels of the
"bad" proteins, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were associated with a lower ability to
respond to insulin and use glucose. And, low production of adiponectin in subcutaneous fat is linked
with an elevated risk of heart disease.
OBESITY PREVENTION
Pischon T et al found an inverse-association between physical activity and plasma levels of
sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein [2]. Thus, frequent physical activity is
related to lower systemic inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity.
Please, remember that the ideal BMI is 25. Being too thin may
lead to medical complications such as infertility and
osteoporosis. Steve Bloomfield, the Eating Disorders
Association considers anorexia and bulimia as diseases. [A2]
OBESITY PREVENTION-NONTRADITIONAL METHODS
REFERENCES
1. Kaiser T and Schunker H, Cardiovascular changes in obesity, Herz. 2001 May;26(3):194-201.
2. Pischon T et al, Leisure-time physical activity and reduced plasma levels of obesity-related inflammatory markers, Obes Res. 2003
Sep;11(9):1055-64.
3. Das UN , Is obesity an inflammatory condition? Nutrition. 2001 Nov-Dec;17(11-12):953-66.
4. Yudkin JS et al, Inflammation, obesity, stress and coronary heart disease: is interleukin-6 the link?, Atherosclerosis. 2000
Feb;148(2):209-14.
5. De Pergola G et al, Coagulation and fibrinolysis abnormalities in obesity, J Endocrinol Invest. 2002 Nov;25(10):899-904.
6. Fat May Promote Inflammation, New Study Suggests, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Press Release, March 28,
2005 [A2] British charity issues anorexia Internet warning Reuters Sat Jan 6
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PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND DISEASES.
ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER
FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
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