Correlation Between Adipocytes and the Immunity

Obesity is sometimes characterized by a low-grade systemic inflammation. This systemic inflammation is generally the cause of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes in obese people. What causes these inflammatory response are adipose tissue partially composed of macrophages and lymphocytes. These adipose tissues release a wide variety of anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory factors, e.g. adipokines leptin, adiponectin and chemokines.

Adipocytes and macrophages both contribute to the stimulus of IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and high levels of IL-6 have been linked to CRP, which is a protein found in obese people. In addition, TNF-alpha can lead to insulin resistance by inducing serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, which can inhibit insulin signaling.

Although it is not clear on what causes these proinflammatory factors to be released from adipose tissues to produce the chronic inflammatory state of visceral diabetes, it is becoming a know fact in the research world that these inflammatory mediators are involved in the development of insulin resistance.

To see more about this topic visit:www.jacionline.org/article/PIIS0091674905004173/fulltext

The Role of Nutrition in Inflammation

In the articles Inflammation and Metabolic Disorders and Inflammation in Obesity-Related Diseases, the authors indicated that high-fat foods can contribute to inflammation. Navab, Gharavi, and Watson (2008) further reported that foods which are characteristically "high fructose, high-energy density, low fiber, and low dairy" can lead to inflammation. There are some confusing contradictions in the nutrition recommendations in the lay articles, however. In the article that we discussed last week The Inflammation Age, the author indicated that whole grains, eggs, and poultry can result in inflammation. Whereas, in the article A Good Diet Can Defeat Chronic Inflammatory Illnesses, Garrison recommended eating sprouted breads, egg whites, and lean proteins like chicken. She also recommended eating fruits and vegetables, but also indicated that eliminating tomatoes and "nightshade vegetables like eggplant and bell pepper" can reduce the symptoms of inflammation. So what role do foods actually play in inflammation? Which foods should people avoid and which foods should people consume to minimize inflammation?

Spring Collection 2010, Style-Big and Bigger

As the society continues to promote increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical inactivity, recent studies has shown that the American population has become more overweight. The percentage of being considered as overweight or obese in the United States is now 1 out of 3.

We confess that kids these days spend less time exercising and more time in front of the television, computer, or video-games. In addition, busy parents gradually have fewer “spare-time” with their kids and/or to prepare nutritional home-cooked meals. As we become more prone to quick and easy, individuals gradually adapt to a lifestyle that is comfortable as sweat-pants.

In the United States, the average dress size for a healthy woman has been considered to be an 8. For a healthy man, 40 was considered regular. However, nowadays people now consider the average dress size to be a 14 (the size at which “plus-size” clothing begins) for women and 44 for men. In other words, obesity has risen dramatically over the past few years in America.

From luxurious names to mass retail chains, clothing size labels have scaled down making consumers feel better. Therefore, by making the clothing bigger and the sizes smaller, are we slowly being brain-washed that a bigger size is the “normal-size”? Are we then programmed to easily choose the “deluxe value meal” at fast food restaurants? In that case, do clothing companies collaborate with fast food chains to promote better business?

This only led me to think about the Wendy’s $2.99 value-meal commercial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Sz9Ms54ho Would the rates of obesity decrease if we didn’t get the amount of food that we paid for?