Friday, November 10, 2006

Obesity and Pancreatic Distress

As a person gains weight the pancreas must work harder to produce more insulin to transport the excess calories.  The initial response to this problem is for the pancreas to increase the number of beta cells that produce insulin, a form of “pancreatic physical fitness.” If the pancreas is able to keep up an overweight person may not suffer debilitating health consequences.  However, as triglycerides, blood sugar, and cholesterol begin to drift upward the pancreas is losing its fitness.  Metabolic signals coming from white adipose tissue, leptin and adiponectin, regulate pancreas beta cell fitness.  A new study shows that as the weight problem worsens leptin levels rise too high while adiponectin levels fall.  Once adiponectin levels fall, pancreatic fitness is lost and disease risk sets in.  The moral of the story:  being fat will eventually catch up with anyone.  Lose weight, keep it off, and stay healthy.  Learn to master leptin.