The Key To Obesity Management Lies In The Science Of Energy Homeostasis
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
If there is one thing we know for sure about obesity management, it is the sad fact, that no diet, exercise, medication, not even bariatric surgery, will permanently reset the body’s tendency to defend and regain its body weight to its set point – this generally being the highest weight that has been achieved and maintained for a notable length of time.
Thus, any effective long-term treatment has to offset the complex neurobiology that will eventually doom every weight-loss attempt to “failure” (no, anecdotes don’t count!).
Just how complex and overpowering this biological system that regulates body weight is, is described in a comprehensive review by the undisputed leaders in this field (Michael Schwartz, Randy Seeley, Eric Ravussin, Rudolph Leibel and colleagues) published in Endocrine Reviews. Indeed the paper is nothing less than a “Scientific Statement” from the venerable Endocrine Society, or, in other words, these folks know what they’re talking about when it comes to the science of energy balance.
As the authors remind us,
“In its third year of existence, the Endocrine Society elected Sir Harvey Cushing as President. In his presidential address, he advocated strongly in favor of adopting the scientific method and abandoning empiricism to better inform the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disease. In doing so, Cushing helped to usher in the modern era of endocrinology and with it, the end of organo-therapy. (In an interesting historical footnote, Cushing’s Energy Homeostasis and the Physiological Control of Body-Fat Stores presidential address was given in , the same year that insulin was discovered.)”
Over 30 pages, backed by almost 350 scientific citations, the authors outline in excruciating detail just how complex the biological system that regulates, defends, and restores body weight actually is. Moreover, this system is not static but rather, is strongly influenced and modulated by environmental and societal factors.
Indeed, after reading this article, it seems that the very notion, that average Jane or Joe could somehow learn to permanently overcome this intricately fine-tuned system (or the societal drivers) with will power alone is almost laughable (hats off to the very few brave and determined individuals, who can actually do this – you have climbed to the top of Mount Everest and decided to camp out there for the foreseeable future – I wish you all the best!).
Thus, the authors are confident that,
“The identification of neuromolecular mechanisms that integrate short-term and long-term control of feeding behavior, such that calorie intake precisely matches energy expenditure over long time intervals, will almost certainly enable better preventive and therapeutic approaches to obesity.”
Sadly, despite all we have learnt about this system, we are still far from fully understanding it. Thus, the canonical molecular/ cellular signaling pathway: LEP → LEPR → POMC, AgRP → PC → MC4R is just one pathway in a complex network of multiple interacting and sometimes redundant pathways that involve virtually every part of the brain.
Also, the effect of environmental factors appears to be far more complex than most people think. Thus,
“During sensitive periods of development, ontogenic processes in both brain and peripheral organs can be modified so as to match anticipated environmental conditions. Although many exposures during development could potentially predispose to obesity in adulthood, we focus here on two that some researchers think contribute to the secular trends in obesity: parental obesity and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).”
Throw in the role of gut bugs, infections, and societal factors, and it is easy to see why no simple solution to the obesity epidemic are in sight (let alone a range of effective long-term treatments like we have for most other common chronic diseases).
As for solutions,
“To be viable, theories of obesity pathogenesis must account not only for how excess body fat is acquired, but also for how excess body fat comes to be biologically defended. To date, the preponderance of research has focused on the former. However, we must consider the possibility that some (perhaps even most) mechanisms underlying weight gain are distinct from those responsible for the biological defense of excess fat mass. A key question, therefore, is how the energy homeostasis system comes to defend an elevated level of fat mass (analogous to the defense of elevated blood pressure in patients with hypertension). Answering this question requires an improved understanding of the neuro-molecular elements that underlie a “defended” level of body fat. What are the molecular/neuroanatomic predicates that help establish and defend a “set point” for adiposity? How do these elements regulate feeding behavior and/or energy expenditure, so as to achieve long-term energy balance? By what mechanisms is an apparently higher set point established and defended in individuals who are obese?” [sic]
Clearly,
“Given that recovery of lost weight (the normal, physiological response to weight loss irrespective of one’s starting weight) is the largest single obstacle to effective long-term weight loss, we cannot overstate the importance of a coherent understanding of obesity-associated alterations of the energy homeostasis system.”
There is much work to be done. Whether or not, in this climate of anti- and pseudo-science, funding for such fundamental work will actually be made available, is anyone’s guess.
@DrSharma
Edmonton, AB
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Wow, Dr. S! Way to take all hope away! I lost 60 pounds and am struggling to take off another 60 but it sounds like there is no point in even trying. Might as well enjoy the ride to continued obesity and death. ?
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Actually Eva, it’s not hopeless – for one, there are many things that can promote health (like eating better, getting enough exercise, good sleep, stress management, etc.) that will absolutely improve health even with no weight loss. If you really do need to lose weight (e.g. because of pain or mobility issues), you will need medical or surgical help – the treatments are limited but can work if approached properly by a health professional who understands obesity management.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Thanks for the encouraging response but I felt like Eva discouraged and I am only starting my journey…
So does this mean if we prefer/choose not to go the surgical route but take the medication, we would have to be on it for the rest of our lives if there is any hope to keep the weight off?
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Best thing you can do Eva is not listen to this person. There are plenty of studies and real life success accounts showing diet and exercise do work and last, the biggest reason for failure is people go back to their old habits. There are also many medical studies showing the significant changes to the way the body functions after bariatric surgery. His statement regarding metabolic set point is also completely wrong, even the endocrine study cited says this a process that is yet to be fully understood! For a so called dr to make a blanket statement slamming all and any attempts at weight loss and health is disgraceful, selfish and incredibly inaccurate!
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Thanks for the article. I’m writing on behalf of my wife who has been obese from age 10. Now 60. She has been on numerous diets several medically supervised. Low carbs, liquid, etc. 5’7″ @ 290lbs. Currently been on a low carb for 8 weeks. 12-1400 calories. Daily food log. No dairy. Lost 7 pounds. Just yoyo’s between 7 -10 lb. loss for a month. This has happened on nearly all her diets. The body will
not let the fat go. The article just gives evidence that there doesn’t seem tobe a fix.
Thanks. Larry
Thursday, July 13, 2017
This is simply an oversimplification of a very complex problem. It’s easy to pretend we understand, when we have no incentive to cure. When cure becomes the goal, the reality Gap will begin to close.
But today, cured is not defined for obesity. If someone is cured we cannot even notice, detect, or prove a cure. So instead we measure weight loss, and wonder why it comes back. The answer is simple. The cause was not addressed. No cure is possible if the cause is not addressed.
To your health, tracy
Monday, August 14, 2017
Wow Tracy,
I really like your statement and truth. Others struggling with under weight or other non cured issues may understand what your saying. I think it even goes further into the brain and how it works. I thing we are very capable of totally sabotaging ourselves in many ways. If this is truth then the brain should also be able to bring about the opposite? We need to capture these realities and study them?? Just a though.
Brenda
Sunday, July 23, 2017
As a physician practicing obesity medicine for the last five years and after spending hundreds of hours learning about obesity and treating hundreds of patients, I have to say this paper is the best ever! In my humble opinion.
My first feeling was “should this paper be inserted as-is in the textbook of endocrinology we study in medical school!?” but then let me agree with Dr. Sharma this is the “undisputed leaders statement” on the topic.
In brief, I want to applaud the genius approach the paper set by giving the case example in the beginning and the math involved for weight gain in the imbalance of energy intake and expenditure. Fast forward, covering the classics of wt physiology, then comes a fascinating section titled developmental considerations which itself set the grounds for the following sections on genetics and environment issues…
“For these reasons, the ability to influence and clinically manipulate energy intake is the more pressing goal where obesity treatment is concerned” that was the bull’s eye strike statement halfway in this article. A little hope for me to go to work on Monday!
Remember the 5A’s of obesity management? well the way the authors went about summarizing the existing evidence on the various questions from diet composition, to exercise to bariatric surgery and of course gut flora… this is enough juice for any practicing physician who needs to “Advise”.
Many new obesity medicine phrases and terms were also elegantly mentioned in this paper: “defended level of body adiposity” as an example. Critical questions too, such as “how…ultimately causes not only weight gain but also the biological defense of elevated fat mass-the two processes that define the obese state”.
Concluding remarks and future directions was a beautiful way to end this scientific statement. Looking at the questions and comments above from our existing patients, please allow me to agree with Dr. Sharma we are all in this boat together and we will not give up working on finding answers to this problem, so don’t give up anybody!
Monday, August 14, 2017
Dear Dr. Sharma,
I am researching gastric bypass plus other surgical procedures. I came across your 2011 show workbook and wondering if it is still relevant today? Will it assist me in furthering my understanding of my obesity and what steps I should consider next. Not sure if you actually take patients or if these classes are where I should start? I’m a 53 yr old female living with type 2 diabetes and severe obesity from teen years with yo yo weight. Any advice on where to go from here would be helpful! Thank you in advance for your anticipated reply!