Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on September 18, 2012 at 8:58pm

I have thought the same thing - weight does not always equate with health. Although our culture is thin crazed and appearance obsessed.

Many very sick people are very thin and many healthy people are overweight. However, if you turn on any show you are bombarded with diet plans and talk of weight (how your jeans fit), etc. and on and on.

Additionally, our society discriminates against people of size. There are studies done on this subject. I'll have to post some on that issue.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on October 17, 2012 at 7:13pm

On the flip side, even short term overeating damages the brain mechanism that prevents type 2 diabetes.

Overeating Impairs Brain Insulin Function, a Mechanism That Can Lea...

New research from Mount Sinai School of Medicine sheds light on how overeating can cause a malfunction in brain insulin signaling, and lead to obesity and diabetes. Christoph Buettner, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease) and his research team found that overeating impairs the ability of brain insulin to suppress the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue.

... once you overeat, your brain develops insulin resistance. ... brain insulin resistance causes increased spillage of fatty acids from adipose tissue into the blood stream,"... Increased fatty acids induce inflammation and that, in turn, can further worsen insulin resistance, which is the core defect in type 2 diabetes. Fatty acids also increase glucose production in the liver which raises blood glucose levels, Dr. Buettner explained. "It's a vicious cycle and while we knew that this can begin with overeating, this study shows that it is really the brain that is harmed first which then starts the downward spiral." [emphasis mine]