Researchers have shown that weight loss, whether moderate or significant, improves the health of fat tissue in obese patients, reduces inflammation, and restores cellular functions to levels similar to those found in lean individuals.
Benefits of weight loss for the health of body fat tissue
Obesity is known to cause inflammation and dysfunction in adipose tissue, increasing the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Weight loss has been shown to reduce this risk, but the question remains: can adipose tissue "rebuild itself" after weight loss, or does it retain a memory of obesity?
The new study, led by Assistant Professor Anne Loft, Associate Professor Jesper Grod Skat Madsen and Professor Susanne Mandrup from the University of Southern Denmark, conducted a detailed analysis of cellular and molecular changes in the adipose tissue of morbidly obese patients in three main phases:
Rising obesity rates pose new challenges to global health.
Before gastric bypass surgery.
After a moderate weight loss of 5–10% through dietary changes, and immediately before surgery.
Two years after surgery, and after a significant weight loss of 20–45%.
Using advanced single-cell techniques, researchers observed, two years after surgery, a significant decrease in the number of immune cells, bringing their levels down to levels similar to those found in thin people.
Loft explained: "This is an important improvement, because immune cells cause inflammation and reduce insulin sensitivity, which affects the whole body and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related diseases."
The team also observed an increase in blood vessel cells, which helps deliver oxygen and nutrients more efficiently to the fat tissue. Gene expression across all cell types returned to normal levels, similar to those found in lean individuals, indicating tissue health restoration.
As for moderate weight loss, researchers found that it stimulates a specific type of primary fat cell and increases the activity of genes responsible for the formation of new fat cells. Mandrap explained, "Even moderate weight loss improves the health of fat tissue and may contribute to improved insulin sensitivity, although inflammation has not yet decreased."
