A new study has revealed a surprising reason why maintaining weight loss can be so difficult: Fat cells retain a “memory” of obesity, even after major weight loss.
This memory, rooted in changes to the epigenome of fat cells, may explain why the body tends to regain weight after diet or surgery. The study was published this week in the scientific journal Nature.
The epigenome is made up of chemical tags that bind to DNA and proteins, influencing the activity of genes without altering the genetic code itself. In obese people, these labels change, altering the functioning of fat cells.
According to Laura Hinte, a biologist at ETH Zurich and co-author of the study, these changes impair the normal processes of fat cells, and the changes remain even after weight loss. “It means that, potentially, We need more help”highlighted Hinte, in .
To investigate the phenomenon, researchers analyzed the adipose tissue of people with severe obesity and compared it with that of people who had never been obese.
The study revealed that certain genes in the fat cells of the obese group were more activeleading to inflammation and fibrosis, while others were less active, disrupting normal fat storage and metabolism.
Surprisingly, these patterns of gene activity persisted even after the participants underwent weight loss surgery and lost a lot of weight.
“There may be a window of time in which this memory is lost”recognizes Ferdinand von Meyenn, another co-author of the study. However, more research is needed to determine if and how these changes can be reversed.
Experts not involved in the study warn that the results are correlational and do not yet establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between epigenetic changes and the physical characteristics observed in experiments carried out with laboratory rats.
As von Meyenn points out, this study’s findings could help change public perceptions regarding obesity by promoting greater empathy and support for those who strive to maintain a healthy weight.
