home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK00219}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{The Facts About Brown Fat and Obesity}
- $Subject{brown fat obesity weight Subcutaneous Tissue adipose energy calories
- Hormones insulin epinephrine sympathetic nervous system}
- $Volume{L-20}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- The Facts About Brown Fat and Obesity
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: Sometime ago you answered a question about brown fat and obesity.
- Every time I bring it up in discussions with friends, they laugh and ask for
- more information. However, I can't find anything written about it. You will
- have to do better, Dr. Bruckheim; please tell us more.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: You are not the only one who has written requesting additional
- information. Obesity and its control continues to rank high on the health
- priority of many Americans. And, since the story is an interesting one, here
- goes:
- In December, 1984, Dr. Jean Himms-Hagen of the Department of
- Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, Canada, published and article in the New
- England Journal of Medicine which discussed the role of brown adipose tissue
- (brown fat) in the production of heat and the use of energy in rats. Brown
- fat differs from white fat in its structure and location in the body, and is a
- large contributor to the manner in which energy is burned by the body. As
- more energy is burned, more calories derived from food are used, and weight
- control is enhanced. Normally, this type of tissue represents only one to
- three percent of total body weight in humans. However we all know of friends
- who can eat larger quantities of food without weight gain, while others
- restrict their food intake yet still put on the pounds. One of the possible
- answers that this research provides is that individuals with more brown fat in
- their make up are the ones who can take greater liberties with diet and food
- consumption without the weight gain most of us experience. Hormones such as
- insulin and epinephrine play a an important role in this action of brown fat,
- and the manner of action may be under control of the sympathetic nervous
- system. Unfortunately there is no way yet discovered that can increase the
- amount of brown fat in our bodies, and more research is needed to fully
- explain this phenomenon. I trust this information will satisfy the curiosity
- of you and your friends.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-