If you have an apple body shape, here’s why and what to do

Over the last decade there has been so much debate about body fat…

A lot of it centers on genes. That’s because it seems to make sense considering some people can drop the weight seemingly super easy while others struggle to drop an ounce even if they starve themselves.

And then there are those diets that work for “this” group of people, but not “these” folks.

There’s even debate over how much and what kind of exercise does the trick.

Not surprisingly, researchers have found another piece to the fat puzzle… and it may finally be the best answer yet to the question we all ask…

Why is it so hard for some of us to lose the fat?

Distressed, scarred and inflamed fat cells

Researchers at the University of Exeter’s Medical School set out to figure out the answer to that question.

They examined fat tissues from patients who had undergone bariatric surgery and compared them to tissue from leaner subjects who had undergone elective surgical procedures.

The research examined a specific molecule called Lysyl oxidase (LOX) which regulates scarring of fat tissue by making the tissue stiffer.

Here’s what they found…

• LOX is more prevalent in the fat tissue of obese people
• Those with a higher body mass index (BMI) tend to have higher levels of LOX
• Inflammation can increase the amount of LOX in the fat tissue of patients

So, why is the amount of LOX in your fat tissue important?

Remember, we said that LOX regulates the scarring of fat tissue. Well, according to the researchers, scarring of fat tissue adds another layer to the already difficult process of weight loss.

That’s because as fat cells get bigger they become distressed (scarred) and struggle for oxygen which triggers inflammation in the fat tissue and they becomes suffocated by their own expansion.

And, since stressed and unhealthy fat tissue is less able to store excess calories, those extra calories end up as fat  tissue around your vital organs, including your liver, muscle and heart — leading to even worse problems, like fatty liver and heart disease. Because of where this fat “sticks,” most people with scarred fat have an apple body shape.

So, if your fat cells become scarred as you gain weight, making it more difficult to drop those extra pounds, what can you do to finally slim down — and avoid the specific health threats your body shape seems prone to?

Less LOX, less fat

Well, according to the researchers, there’s no magic wand to make the weight fall off. That means the two most important things they recommend to overcome the effects of fat tissue scarring in order to lose weight are probably not going to be new to you. You’ll still have to:

• Get moving – The University of Exeter scientists stressed the value of exercise in re-training fat cells and burning off extra calories. According to them, the number one way to lose weight is to exercise or at least take a walk after eating to rev up your metabolism.
• Create a deficit – The old tried and true advice of decreasing the number of calories you take in each day still stands. In order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume.

But there’s something “less traditional” you could do — and it’s a lot easier than exercising more and eating less.

You could get to the root of what would cause your body fat to contain more LOX — making it almost impervious to your weight loss efforts — and that’s inflammation.

According to Dr. Mark Wiley, the first place to start squelching inflammation is your diet, because it’s a crucial contributor to the inflammation response (don’t worry, I promise I’ll get to the “easy” part in just a second)…

Foods high in refined sugar, fats, cholesterol, processed wheat and preservatives wreak havoc on the digestive tract. When you overconsume dehydrating foods, don’t drink enough water and eat an insufficient amount of whole grains and green leafy vegetables, you can suffer constipation. Consuming too many nightshades also contributes to inflammation. To find a balance, avoid foods that are acidic to the body (processed foods) and eat more foods that are alkalizing like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Stamping out inflammation, the easy way

Now for the easy part… There are also a few supplements that help reduce or prevent inflammation, including vitamin D3 and curcumin.

But the most researched supplement in regard to inflammation has to be the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil.

And as luck would have it, fish oil has also been shown to help reduce body fat, especially when you combine it with moderate regular exercise. So, not only is fish oil already helpful for weight loss, by dousing the inflammation it could help you carry less LOX in your fat tissue, so it responds better to diet and exercise. When choosing fish oil…

• You want one sourced from cold-water fish to avoid contaminants like mercury.
• Super oxidative stability makes for a longer shelf life (many fish oil supplements go rancid).
• And most importantly — you want higher concentrations of EPA, DHA and omega-3.
• You may want to try krill oil instead of fish oil, if you want a clean and sustainable source of omega-3s.