We all have experienced inflammatory reactions. When your body activates your immune system, it sends out inflammatory cells. These cells attack bacteria or heal damaged tissue. The inflammatory reaction is a defense mechanism of the body and it is essential for protecting/healing us.
However, there are circumstances when the body produces an inflammatory reaction when we are not infected or injured. There are a number of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and lupus that are caused by an inappropriate inflammatory reaction. Heart disease and cancer have been linked to chronic inflammation.
Poor weight control has been shown to produce a chronic inflammatory state. Obesity leads to altered levels of cytokines and other inflammatory chemicals. The chronic inflammatory state produced by poor weight control is, in turn, contributing to the higher risks of heart disease, cancer and other disorders that are co-morbidities of obesity.
Reducing weight has been shown to reduce the chronic inflammatory state. This strongly contributes to the improved health that people experience when they shed the weight and keep that weight off.
Inflammation, when we are infected or injured is a “good” thing. However, chronic inflammation is not. Keep focused on your weight control efforts!
