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Losing weight may be more difficult with more stored fat
A protein that inhibits the body’s ability to burn fat appears to be present in higher concentrations in people who have more fat tissue, according to research published in Nature Communications.
“Our discovery may help explain why overweight individuals find it incredibly hard to lose weight,” Andrew J. Whittle, PhD, of the University of Cambridge, said in a press release. “Their stored fat is actively fighting against their efforts to burn it off at the molecular level.”
Researchers evaluated the protein sLR11 in mice to determine its effect on the fat burning process.
Mice who lacked the gene for producing sLR11 were able to burn calories more quickly than mice with the gene.
When the protein was examined in humans, researchers found that total fat mass increased with increasing levels of sLR11.
According to the researchers, the findings may explain one of the mechanisms that makes the body hold on to stored energy.
“We have found an important mechanism that could be targeted not just to help increase people’s ability to burn fat, but also help people with conditions where saving energy is important, such as anorexia nervosa,” Toni Vidal-Puig, also of the University of Cambridge, said in the release.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.