Does Obesity Cause Inflammation? Or Is It the Other Way Around?

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Replies

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    I have some autoimmune problems. When they act up I tend to gain weight. My TDEE seems to drop by many hundred calories quite quickly. I can still lose weight but it is much more difficult. Weight gain on the other hand becomes laughably easy.

    For me, flare-ups and inflammation lead to weight gain.
  • DevotedToDASH
    DevotedToDASH Posts: 60 Member
    To answer the questions I missed earlier -
    I'm 5'4", have a little over 100 lbs to lose, and while I was diagnosed with Hashi's about 10 years ago, because I have a naturally rapid heart rate (even in my teens when I weighed about 125 and was super active, it hung around 95 at rest), the conventional wisdom of the day was that I couldn't have thyroid problems because of the rapid heart. My inflammatory markers were already high, I had digestive issues and I was also having problems with edema already. I went through myriad tests but I think they were looking in the wrong direction. Medicine has gotten smarter in some ways, although it took begging 3 drs before they would consider the possibility of hypothyroidism.

    IBS-D doesn't really allow for food build-up in the gut, although it can cause malnutrition which can lead to obesity. No celiac disease, based on a scope and biopsies.

    I work full time - it's a desk job, but I do quite a bit of training new hires, so I'm up and about the office pretty frequently. Kids are grown... but the grandkids keep me busy whenever I can spend time with them on weekends.

    While it is awful dealing with inflammation, it's good to know that I'm not the only one that feels like it could be a contributor to weight gain. For those of us who deal with it daily, it sounds like it's really about finding what works on an individual basis... here's hoping we all find our answers.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,851 Member
    So you say you have lipedema. With this condition body fat is not stored additionally in certain body parts but preferentially in certain body parts, often legs or arms. Furthermore, it causes more problems when sitting a lot and when it's hot. A complication on later stage lipedema is the storage of lymphatic fluids in the affected body parts. To prevent this and/or find relief you'd need to look for someone knowleadgable in lymphatic massage and bandaging. And you most likely need to wear propperly fitted compression thighs. Low impact sports, like swimming, walking and cycling seems beneficial.

    There are many patient groups in my home country for lipedema. The recommendation is indeed: lymphatic evaluation and massage, wear compressional thighs, and learn from a specialist how to bandage the affected parts, and overall weight loss. This does not stop the progression of the desease but slows it down.
  • ugofatcat
    ugofatcat Posts: 385 Member
    Just out of curiosity, what is your current height and weight? How much does your weight fluctuate on a given day and when you eat fast foods?

    Have your doctors talked to you about weight loss medications like saxenda or contrave? Are you open to trying a medically supervised weight loss program, where the doctor carefully monitors your intake and blood work?

    While excess weight does cause inflammation, I wonder if your excess weight is contributing to your numerous health problems, or if you had numerous health problems which contributed to your current predicament (excess weight). Have you always been your current weight?
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    edited July 2017
    I love the name. Dedicated to DASH.
    I love this way of eating. Giving up fast food, and frozen meals has been hard. I don't see a need to go plant based, since grilled chicken breast is a staple for me. For inflammation, I take a fish oil along with my multivitamin. I also put Turmeric on my foods. Don't give up. Never give up.
  • Sloth2016
    Sloth2016 Posts: 838 Member
    Maybe this is helpful: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lipoedema/Pages/Introduction.aspx

    Best wishes for improving your health
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    edited July 2017
    OP did say that she think she might have lipedema, but with the water weight fluctuations, it sounds more like lymphedema.

  • ugofatcat
    ugofatcat Posts: 385 Member
    @DevotedtoDash I am looking over that article you posted (https://www.edinstitute.org/paper/2015/6/13/gaining-weight-despite-calorie-restriction ).

    It appears all the sources they cited link back the homepage of their blog.
  • ugofatcat
    ugofatcat Posts: 385 Member
    oops nvm I see all the sources at the bottom. It will take time to go through them.
  • DevotedToDASH
    DevotedToDASH Posts: 60 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    There are many patient groups in my home country for lipedema. The recommendation is indeed: lymphatic evaluation and massage, wear compressional thighs, and learn from a specialist how to bandage the affected parts, and overall weight loss. This does not stop the progression of the disease but slows it down.

    @yirara There is no insurance coverage for this in the US, as it's considered cosmetic... which means my out of pocket costs for initial treatment would cost me upwards of $4-5k and every session afterwards would be approximately $100 (weekly or biweekly) for no more than two areas. That doesn't include the bandages or compression garments - or income lost from work hours lost. I have already spent about $500 on compression stockings and a couple pairs of compression tights, but without insurance coverage, the cost for treatment is formidable for me. There are only two doctors in the state I live in that are trained/willing to diagnose/treat this disorder - one is not taking new patients, and the other will only diagnose and give a list of therapists from what I understand. Liposuction has become the new standard treatment here, but at $4-7k a session with multiple sessions - not happening right now. Regular massage is just too painful, so that's not an option either.
    I love the name. Dedicated to DASH.
    I love this way of eating. Giving up fast food, and frozen meals has been hard. I don't see a need to go plant based, since grilled chicken breast is a staple for me. For inflammation, I take a fish oil along with my multivitamin. I also put Turmeric on my foods. Don't give up. Never give up.

    @TheWJordinWJordin Thanks for the encouragement. I guess part of the reason I'm thinking vegetarian and organic would be good right now is I'm really trying to calm the inflammation. You just don't know what you're getting with animal protein - between the antibiotics they're given and the GMO feed and pesticides, it all works its way up the food chain and into our bodies. If I do eat meat, it will likely be free range chicken or free range grass fed beef. I want to give my immune system a break. I started turmeric last week - in capsule form. Haven't noticed a difference yet, but it takes time, I've taken fish oil supplements for a long time now. I am adding a larger dose of zinc to my daily regimen as there is research showing that has a positive effect on thyroid function.
    I'd also suggest doing research on how to better vet your sources.
    Noted... I have access to a great deal of journal articles and will in the future. Didn't realize that everyone understood medical terminology - but cool! That one was in simple English and provided sources so I thought it was a good basic resource.
    ugofatcat wrote: »
    Have your doctors talked to you about weight loss medications like saxenda or contrave? Are you open to trying a medically supervised weight loss program, where the doctor carefully monitors your intake and blood work?

    While excess weight does cause inflammation, I wonder if your excess weight is contributing to your numerous health problems, or if you had numerous health problems which contributed to your current predicament (excess weight). Have you always been your current weight?

    @ugofatcat Not a candidate for anything that would increase a risk of arrhythmia (personal/family history), pancreatitis (personal GI problems), thyroid cancer (family history) or doesn't play well with PTSD meds. I wish I had an answer to what came first. I'm guessing the health problems, because I had some quirky medical problems even as a child that doctors couldn't explain (long term FUOs, anemia, muscle pain) and others that were diagnosable - like migraine syndrome (onset around age 5, not formally diagnosed until age 18). Too many antibiotics did a number on my ability to absorb nutrients well - although probiotics help with that. Also, because I have a quirky form of familial hypertension not related to weight, most doctors are really hesitant about anything that could have a negative effect on that. Haven't always been my current weight - only 8 lbs 15 oz when I was born, lol - j/k... but pretty much always overweight unless I really restricted. Haven't been in Onederland in over 15 years. Genetics are miserable, although mom is still going strong at 93 (but wheelchair bound and never very active in her lifestyle).

    Lots of great feedback and questions - keeps me thinking. I'm still feeling positive about achieving progress, so if sounds like I'm all negativity, I'm not. I've just got a lot of roadblocks and I'm looking for ways around or over them.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    Regarding the lipedema, even if you have that, what you have said regarding fluid issues indicates that you likely have lymph involvement, and that necessitates another type of treatment protocol that you should see someone about.

    Lipedema involves the abnormal accumulation of fat cells in the extremities. It has nothing to do with fluid in those areas. You have mentioned fluid several times in this thread. They're separate issues, though someone can suffer from both conditions.

  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    Doctors know about this program. They may ask for a printout so log accurately every single day. Get a food scale if you don't have one. They are next to measuring cups at the store.
    I know you will get better.