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   Perhaps this explains why those who are obese, that is BMI >30, are at increased risk of cancer, specifically colon cancer.  In addition to increased risk for cancer, those with weight problems are at increased risk for asthma, accidents, falls, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, broken bones, arthritis, sleep apnea, sudden cardiac death, diabetes and more..  From my experience, the only thing that helps with weight loss is a consistent exercise program and sane eating.   

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By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12 (HealthDay News) — Obese people find it harder to fight infections, and a weakened immune response may be t blame, suggests a new study from Boston University researchers

“For years, we have had difficulty understanding why obese people have difficulty clearing an infection,” said lead researcher Dr. Salomon Amar, associate dean for research at the university’s School of Dental Medicine.

“Now we understand that dysfunction in some of the mechanisms, as a result of the obesity, explain difficulty in clearing the infection and also the difficulty in wound healing,” Amar said.

In the study, Amar’s team tied silk threads infected with the bacteria around the molars of obese and normal-weight mice. They then compared the animals’ responses to infection, by measuring both the amount of bone loss and the growth of the bacteria around their teeth.

The researchers found that the obese mice had a compromised immune response to the bacteria, which made the animals more susceptible to the infection.

Amar’s group also looked at the animals’ white blood cells, which are the main line of defense against infection. The white cells of obese mice had lower levels of an important signaling molecule, and some of the genes that fight inflammation were altered, the researchers found.

Why obesity has this effect isn’t clear, but the researchers think it may involve a signaling pathway that controls a protein called NF-kB. Alterations in this protein may be caused by constant exposure to food, Amar explained. “At some point, the body doesn’t respond properly to infection,” he said.

The same mechanism is at work in humans, Amar added. In fact, studies in obese people have shown they are more likely to have gum disease than non-obese people. The disease is caused by bacteria, which causes inflammation and destruction of the bone underlying teeth.

Amar thinks that obese people need to be treated differently to help them fight infections. “We need to be more aggressive in the use of targeted antibiotics in infections among obese people,” he said. “Also, we need to boost the immune response.”

One expert agreed the finding sheds light on the connection between obesity and infection.

“Very interesting paper,” said Dr. Sara G. Grossi, a senior research scientist at the Brody School of Medicine of East Carolina University. “This is a study that needed to be done, with very interesting results and implications for both obesity and periodontal disease — two diseases that are easier to prevent than to treat.”

For more about gum disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.

As if we don’t have enough to worry about, now a new study shows that almost all people have pesticides in  their bodies.    

Pesticides in your body may be harming you-

A total of 387 adults, from both sexes, were volunteers for surgeries in hospitals taking part in the study (Santa Ana de Motril and San Cecilio de Granada hospital). Once the volunteers had given consent, a sample of their human adipose tissue (fat) was taken during surgery and they answered a questionnaire about their place of residence, lifestyle, eating habits and activities throughout their life.

Analysis of 6 POC´s

The researchers analyzed the samples and measured 6 different POC concentration levels: DDE, a principal metabolite in DDT (a pesticide used in Spain until the 80´s); hexachlorobenzene, a compound used as fungicide and currently released by industrial processes; PCB’s: compounds related to industrial processes; and Hexaclorociclohexano, used as an insecticide and currently used in scabies and pediculosis treatment.

The study carried out by the University of Granada concluded that 100% of subjects analyzed had DDE in their bodies, a substance banned in Spain, and other very frequent components such as PCB-153 (present in 92% of people), HCB (91%), PCB-180 (90%), PCB-138 (86%9) and HCH (84%).

Juan Pedro Arrebola Moreno explains that higher levels of toxic substances were detected in women compared to men and in older volunteers compared to younger people, “possibly due to the great persistence of these substances in the environment, which results in their biomagnification in the food chain and in their bioaccumulation over time”. The scientist added that there is another theory known as “Efecto Cohorte” (Cohort effect) that explains the high quantities of these substances in older people. According to this theory, those born in periods of higher contamination suffered the consequences more than those born with the current bans on such pesticides.

Impact of diet

This study indicates that diet is an important factor in POC concentration, as the ingestion of some aliments, particularly those of animal origin and high fat content, triggers a greater presence of these toxic substances in the human organism.

Juan Pedro Arrebola Moreno states, “There are few studies in Spain measuring POC levels in wide samples of the population, which means that some compound levels in the general population are unknown”. Consequently, this study will improve the knowledge of such levels, and will identify those groups at higher risk of exposure, which is the first step for subsequent follow-up studies determining the cause-effect relations.

This study is part of a project subsidized by the FIS (Sanitarian Investigation Fund) and by the Andalusian Regional Government, and in which the University of Granada, the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, and the Santa Ana and San Cecilio Hospitals take part.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Granada.

University of Granada. “Potentially Harmful Pesticides Found In All Human Subjects Tested.” ScienceDaily 6 January 2008. 6 January 2008 .