The problem of obesity is a highly complex one. Research just published in the journal Cell Nutrition has added yet another layer of complexity. Canadian, US and Irish researchers have found that the body interprets a sudden loss of weight as a threat to survival and responds by engaging the immune system as a defence mechanism.
Almost one quarter of Irish people are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) in excess of 30. Some individuals will have struggled to lose weight with diet and exercise, only to see their initial success reversed as they regain weight over time.
This constant battle is morale sapping, especially in a society which may see being overweight as a simple equation of “too much food in, too little exercise out”.
The latest . It is a reminder that even with a body of evidence from several disciplines, the answers to obesity are neither straightforward nor are they necessarily known. There is a clear need to integrate what scientific evidence we have and to implement a range of responses including a sugar tax. But there is no single solution.
The role of the immune system, until now thought to be primarily one of combating infection and other diseases, in weight control, opens up the possibility of a new array of treatment options. In particular the potential role of using immune system “killer” cells to stimulate the conversion of fat holds promise.
Because of its complexity, helping people with obesity requires a multi-faceted approach. What works for those who are overweight may not be appropriate for people at the severe end of the obesity spectrum.
As we discover more about the causes, we must avoid any element of discrimination against obese patients. In particular past assumptions that the condition is the result of some self-inflicted moral failure must be resisted.