It’s said by many people who suffer from weight.”Eat less and move. ” Others have spent years communicating trendy meals, from keto to fasting.
Despite their best efforts, what they often hear from doctors, friends, family, and even strangers is that they lack discipline. But for many obese people, their bodies are fighting against them – the battle determined by Biological mechanisms beyond pure will.
Millions of people struggle under the weight of social responsibility A state rooted in complex metabolic science.
Obesity is an important public health concern affecting millions around the world. However, it is often simplified as a matter of personal choice. Highlights of Canada’s data Amazing prevalence of Obesity (26.6%) and Diabetes (8.1%).
For too long, social attitudes have focused on denounceing the deeper, multifaceted causes of the state and denounce individuals of poor lifestyle choices.
The need to understand obesity beyond lifestyle changes is urgent, especially through scientific research into its genetic, environmental and physiological roots. It goes beyond the simple equation of calories and calories. This perspective helps to oversimplify science and create stigma.
Malfunctioning fat tissue
The reality lies within the fat of our bodies. Body fat, especially fat under the skin, known as subcutaneous fat tissue (SAT), plays an important role in Energy regulation and metabolic health.
If fat accumulates, it will malfunction. This appears to be added to excessive fat storage in organs such as the liver and muscles. Increases risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Identifying these specific dysfunctions allows researchers to work towards treatments that restore SAT function rather than simply losing weight.
Our research Metabolism, Nutrition, Obesity (MON) Lab Focused at Concordia University Understanding fat tissue (fat tissue) The environment that elucidates how these complex mechanisms and their interactions lead to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The goal is to ultimately use findings to provide a more effective treatment approach based on individual differences.
One aspect that can contribute to individual differences is where fat is stored in the body. Sitting from the lower body around your hips and thighs, It seems to have different functions than sitting around the upper body’s belly. We are investigating the cellular and genetic aspects of these different adipose depots and links between obesity and diabetes.
Obesity isn’t just about excess weight, it’s about how the body stores and processes fat. Our study also shows that external factors can occur in SAT behavior. For example, it’s not SAT Depot works differently depending on sex. People are males, women make a Differences from how fat tissue treats fat.
A closer look at adipose tissue under a microscope shows that the tissue is made up of a variety of cells, including adipocytes or adipocytes and immune cells. Fat cells, or fat cells, are not passive storage units; They regulate energy, produce hormones, and interact with other systems in the body.
However, if these cells become dysfunctional, They can cause inflammation, insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders.
We found that sex is not only a factor in the adipocyte properties of different depots, but also the adipocyte properties are affected. Whether obesity occurs in childhood compared to adulthood. Immune cells are also important components Fat tissue also plays a role in inflammation and metabolic disorders.
Shift the conversation
Instead of blaming the individual, the conversation should be shifted towards an understanding of these pathophysiological mechanisms. In doing so, we can develop targeted therapies that address the root causes of obesity, rather than relying on generic and often ineffective solutions.
Obesity Canada reports Failure to treat obesity costs Canada $5.9 billion in healthcare Workplace productivity losses were $21.7 billion, a $5.1 billion hit government revenues from premature deaths and participation in the workforce.
Obese women face disproportionate effects, with 4% less than women with healthy weights and 5.3% less likely to be employed.
In 2023, obesity-related diseases placed over 10,000 elderly people in long-term care, costing $639 million. However, fewer than 20% of Canadians who are personally insured have approved treatment, with bariatric surgery waiting times spanning up to eight years.
That’s the challenge Our healthcare system is still leaning towards a trial and tested weight loss approachdrugs, exercise, nutrition, and more often, we often rule out how individual bodies respond biologically.
Personalized medical care is a potential alternative. Matching treatment with each patient’s metabolic profile allows us to move away from one size approach towards a more effective intervention.
The need to change our perspective on obesity is not merely a medical necessity, it is social. Stigma attached to excess weight and obesity It prevents people from receiving treatment, promotes mental illness, and perpetuates myths that are damaging. A more empathetic and science-based approach can help reconstruct public attitudes and clinical practices.
Millions of people have been misled by the myth that self-control can cure obesity. Viewing obesity as a chronic metabolic disease rather than a moral is a step forward for effective treatments.
The future of obesity treatment relies on research-driven, personalized interventions. This replaces knowledge and stigma with support. Only then can we fully deal with this global public health crisis.
Muhammad Ilyas NadeemDoctoral Candidates in Obesity and Diabetes | Public Scholar (2024-2025), Concordia University; Christina SanzaDigital Journalism Instructor, Center for Journalism Experiment (JEX) researcher, Concordia Universityand Sylvia SantosaProfessor and Canadian Research Chair Tier 2 – Clinical Nutrition, Concordia University
This article has been republished conversation Under the Creative Commons license. Please read Original article.
