Do Fat Cells Have a Memory?
Most people who lose weight through dieting will see it creep back up, leading to a cycle of “yo-yo dieting” that’s hard on the body. A new study suggests fat cells keep a memory of previous weight gain, which may help to explain why this happens.
Losing weight can be a lot of work, which makes it all the more frustrating when, little by little, the weight creeps back. Now, a study suggests that fat cells retain a memory or past obesity, which may prime the cells to grow when exposed to high-fat foods.
The research “might add to the growing body of evidence that disproves lack of willpower as the underlying force behind ‘weight cycling,'” said Dr. Katherine H. Saunders, an obesity physician at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of FlyteHealth, a software and clinical services company for medical obesity treatment, who was not involved in the study.
Excerpted from Live Science
