How body fat influences inflammation
By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie).
Fat is amazing – it is vital for life. It is an energy reserve. A camel’s hump is not full of water, it is a nutritious store of fat – how do you think they survive long periods without food in the desert?
Fat is also vital for the body’s functions – from the structure of our cells to many hormones circulating in our bloodstream, fat is a key building block.
Fat keeps us insulated and protected from the outside environment. However, carrying excessive fat for long periods of time has wide-ranging health effects. Many of these effects appear to be due to fat’s influence on inflammation.
Losing weight helps to lower systemic inflammation. This seriously reduces the risk of countless health conditions affecting literally every cell in the body – including disorders of the brain (e.g. dementia), heart and circulation (heart disease, stroke and clogged arteries) and the joints (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis).
Fat Cells are Alive
Fat cells, like almost everything in our body, are alive. They release chemical signals into the bloodstream that can have affects all over the body.
Fat is stored in globular balls within fat cells. In the past, our ancestors would fill their fat stores when they had plenty of food, and they would burn these fat stores when food was scarce. These days we have a constant supply of food sitting in the fridge!
When fat cells become filled to their limit, they become stressed. They respond by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. chemicals). When this process continues over a long period of time it contributes towards systemic inflammation.
You Cannot Outrun a Bad Diet
When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, there is no secret sauce. The most important factor is how much we eat (and drink). Exercise, while amazing for our health, won’t cut it alone. Diet is key.
In the past, lack of food was a major issue. These days, in countries like Ireland, excessive eating is a much bigger problem.
There are many ways to cut down food intake – but I can’t go into detail here – do you have any strategies that work for you? Some options include reducing portion size (smaller plates) and ensuring to stick to a list when shopping.
It is worth considering that most food companies want you to eat as much of their products as possible. The more people eat, the higher their profits. Strategic placement of food in supermarkets, eye-catching packaging and targeted advertising campaigns are all utilised so you will fill your trolley with their products.
Why is a physiotherapist talking about diet?
As a physiotherapist, I am not a dietary expert – best see a registered dietician for any individual advice. However, I see people every day for whom body weight is a major contributor to their pain or health complaint. This is becoming more of a widespread issue – contributing to many of the aches and pains that people suffer from today.
As individuals we can all do a little bit more. But what can we do as a society to combat this growing problem?
