Scarred fat hampers weight loss

The fat of obese people becomes distressed, scarred and inflamed, which can make weight loss more difficult, a new study suggests.

An analysis of the health of fat tissue in overweight people found that their fat can cease to cope as it increases in size and becomes suffocated by its own expansion. Medics at the University of Exeter examined samples of fat and tissue from patients, including those with weight problems who have undergone bariatric surgery.

Fat in obese people can suffocate and struggle for oxygen supply, due in part to the increase in the fat cells’ size.

As cells get bigger they become distressed and struggle for oxygen, which triggers inflammation in the fat tissue.

The inflammation spills over from fat tissue into the bloodstream and is eventually measurable in the circulation by a blood test. Stressed and unhealthy fat tissue is also less able to accommodate more unused dietary energy. With fat tissue not being able to do its most vital job, which is storing excess calories, the excess energy can be increasingly diverted from fat tissue to vital organs.

Dr Katarina Kos, from the university’s medical school, found that fat tissue which is fibrous is also stiffer and more rigid and increased levels of scarring can make it harder to lose weight.

“Scarring of fat tissue may make weight loss more difficult,” she said.