Resveratrol and obesity
Obesity, weight control, longevity and resveratrol
Many doctors, scientists, academics, and sociologists have called obesity an “epidemic” of staggering proportions. Today, its complications are considered by many to be the leading cause of death in the United States and many other industrialized nations.
A growing number of Americans are obese …
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 33% of US adults, more than 72 million people, and 16% of US children. They are obese. Since 1980, obesity rates for adults have doubled and rates for children have tripled. Obesity rates among all groups in society, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, level of education, or geographic region, have risen markedly.
The term obesity is defined clinically based on a scale that closely correlates with body fat and metabolism called the Body Mass Index, which is calculated based on height and weight.
Costs are skyrocketing …
In 2000, obesity-related health care costs totaled an estimated $ 117 billion. From 1980 to 1998, obesity-related annual hospital costs among children and adolescents increased from $ 35 million to $ 127 million.
And the most surprising …
“If this trend continues, the current generation of American children may be the first generation with a shorter life expectancy than their parents,” according to Priya C. Stephen, MD at Princeton HealthCare System.
Obesity has serious health consequences …
A wide range of diseases and complications have been partially attributed to obesity, including:
* Heart disease
* Type 2 diabetes
* Cancer (endometrial, breast and colon)
* Hypertension (high blood pressure)
* High cholesterol
* Career
* Liver and gallbladder disease
* Respiratory problems
* Osteoarthritis (cartilage and bone degeneration)
What Causes Obesity?
The determinants of obesity in the United States are complex, numerous, and operate at all social, economic, environmental, psychological, and physiological levels. American society has been characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, unhealthy foods, and physical inactivity.
You are what you eat …
The book Fast Food Nation and the movie Supersize Me, as well as countless articles, studies and reports, point to a growing propensity among people to, frankly, eat foods that are not good for them, such as hot dogs, French fries, cookies, etc. crackers, processed foods, and foods that contain trans fat. Not to mention, many people simply eat too much and consume too many calories (and exercise too little).
Scientists study obese mice
In 2006, Dr. Joseph Baur and Dr. David Sinclair reported their findings in a seminal article in the journal Nature. They tested over 20,000 compounds and identified nineteen (19) compounds that activate so-called “survival genes,” seventeen (17) of which are polyphenols found in red wine grapes, including resveratrol, quercetin, and catechin. . These compounds were found to turn on sirtuin genes (SIRTs) when ingested by mice.
Using SIRT’s main activator, Resveratrol, these scientists conducted survival gene studies in mice, which produced two surprising results: 1) overall lifespan was extended by 20-50%, and 2) diet-fed mice high-calorie (obese mice) lived as long as normal mice, and the incidence of age-related diseases dropped dramatically compared to mice not taking resveratrol.
Resveratrol: the fountain of youth and weight loss?
Resveratrol and other polyphenols in red wine grapes have been shown to increase metabolic activity, which can go a long way in helping people lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. When the SIRT genes are turned on, weight gain appears to be prevented, even when consuming a high-fat diet, by inhibiting fat storage. Resveratrol has also been shown to reduce the number of fat cells in laboratory mice in several studies. When the body stores fewer fat cells, the aging process can also slow down by reducing diseases and conditions related to age and obesity.
Research results from the University of Ulm (Germany) concluded that resveratrol shows promise in the treatment of obesity and obesity-related disorders such as diabetes and blocked coronary arteries.
So should we all live a “fat happy” life and just take resveratrol and drink red wine?
In a word, no! It still makes sense to eat the right foods, eat the right amount of food, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise. But the resveratrol and polyphenols in red wine grapes can help those who, for whatever reason, struggle to control their weight, live longer, and live healthier longer.
