Weight & Metabolism
Excess weight is far more than just carrying extra kilos. Four lesser-known consequences reveal how overweight actively impairs your hormonal balance, brain function, vitamin status, and immune system.
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Excess weight rates have been rising notably in Switzerland for decades. With serious consequences that we want to discuss today.
According to the 2022 Swiss Health Survey, 43% of the population is overweight or obese — over 52% among men and nearly 34% among women. Roughly one in eight people already suffers from obesity. The statistics become more alarming the older people get.
That said, we need to differentiate a bit: statistically, measurements are based on the often-criticized BMI (Body Mass Index). Only two variables matter here: height and weight.
The fact that weight itself can be composed of either fat mass or lean mass (= body composition) is irrelevant for this unit of measurement.
That's why even highly trained strength athletes are quickly classified as overweight or even obese :P We should probably exclude a certain percentage of people with high lean mass from our discussion.
But that's not what we're here to discuss today. We want to tell you about four completely unknown consequences of excess weight — meaning consequences of high fat mass with often low lean mass.
Because: excess weight isn't just «carrying around a few extra kilos» or «damaged joints». Chronic excess weight is rather an actively disease-promoting process that gradually impairs body functions.
Fat tissue contains a lot of aromatase — an enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol, the most important estrogen.
For men, fat mass robs them of their masculinity, inner drive, and metabolic health (Q). In women, elevated estrogen levels lead to many estrogen-related diseases — including increased cancer growth (Q).
Sounds weird, but it's true: the wider the base, the narrower it gets at the top — like a pyramid.
Research shows clearly: the heavier you become, the worse your brain is supplied with blood and therefore oxygen and nutrients (Q). This results long-term in loss of function and measurable brain atrophy (shrinkage).
Studies show that excess weight leads to functional vitamin A deficiency in tissues because the liver produces fewer of the corresponding transport proteins (Q).
When overweight, we generally need more vitamins — this isn't just seen with vitamin A; it has also been shown with vitamin D, selenium, and zinc. Excess weight-related vitamin deficiency itself becomes a driver for disease!
There is robust evidence that certain parts of the brain «overheat» and become inflamed in the course of excess weight. This impairs the function of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from external influences.
Current research, published in renowned journals, suggests this increases the risk of Alzheimer's, dementia, or depression, for example. There, scientists also speak of «the fatty brain» or «the brain under obesity» (Q).
Life around us and within us is constantly changing. The change of a single variable can — in accordance with the butterfly effect — have substantial effects on entire systems.
Chronic excess weight is therefore not a static process with unchanging consequences. Chronic excess weight poisons body systems and will long-term lead to weight loss becoming increasingly difficult and diseases becoming established.
An important first step for many overweight people is to first understand the basics of this disease. For example, how the body programs itself for excess weight based on muscular energy metabolism alone (learn more here).
The good news at the end: excess weight doesn't always make you sick — depending on lifestyle optimization, many disease-promoting processes can be slowed down, even when weight doesn't actively decrease.
Living healthier is worth it in any case!
