In the last 20 years, the rate of obesity -- defined as having a body mass index greater than 30 -- has dramatically risen in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Much of the obesity epidemic is blamed on the availability of fatty foods and sedentary lifestyles. But there may be another reason for uncontrolled weight gain. Some evidence exists that weight loss may not be possible for people with chronic infections.
Ear Infections
University of Florida College of Dentistry researchers in a 2008 study found that chronic ear infections damage taste nerves in the mouth, which might lead to obesity in adulthood. Chronic ear infections seem to trigger a preference for high-calorie foods. They also appear to lead to an increase in consumption and excessive weight gain in adulthood. Damage to the main sensory taste nerve intensifies the sensations produced by fatty foods.The university reports that children with chronic ear infections had an increased desire for cookies, chocolate and high-fat foods such as mayonnaise and butter. This hunger for high-calorie foods makes weight loss difficult.
Inflammation
The inflammatory response within the body is caused by injury or infection. This response releases a number of various chemical reactions, neutrophils and white blood cells. Phagocytes, a type of white blood cell, release lysosomal contents that destroy bacteria, after which the host will produce antibodies to protect against another invasion. Severe inflammation, as seen in sepsis, can cause significant weight loss because the body's metabolism is sent into high gear. But chronic low-grade infections that cause inflammation are more likely to cause weight gain.
Insulin and Cortisol
In chronic inflammation due to chronic infections, resistance to the normal regulatory effects of leptin, insulin and cortisol is disrupted. According to Colorado State University's Department of Biomedical Science, insulin decreases the use of fat as an energy source and promotes the uptake of glucose into fat cells. Cortisol, a steroid, is released from the adrenal glands and directly effects fat storage and weight gain in periods of stress.
Viral Illness
Evidence is accumulating that the adenovirus, Ad-36, plays a role in human obesity. According to Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Ad-36 accelerates the formation of fat cells. The university's conclusion was founded on the data that obese humans have a higher prevalence of antibody titers to this virus than lean humans do.
References
- National Institutes of Health; "Journal of Internal Medicine"; Unique Perspectives on the Obseogenic Environment; J. Ard. July 2007
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Overweight and Obesity; U.S. Obesity Trends; March 2011
- "University of Florida News"; Obesity Risk Linked to History of Chronic Ear Infections; August 2008.
- American Physiological Society: Virus Induced Obesity; F. Greenway; January 2006
- University of New Mexico; Cortisol Connection; Tips on Managing Stress and Weight; C. Marline-Graves & et al.
- Colorado State University; Physiologic Effects of Insulin; R. Bowen; August 2009
Member Comments