In a press release from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, scientists say that they have found a link between inflammation around belly fat cells and the hardening of the arteries that accompanies atherosclerosis. The researchers studied laboratory mice and say that it is too early to tell whether the damaging inflammation process is the same for humans.
What does this mean? Inflammation caused by having a lot of belly fat does increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, at least if you are a mouse.
Unlike lab mice, however, people can work to decrease their waist circumference by a healthy diet and exercise, which is what doctors already recommend to reduce the risks of heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.
An additional experiment in the study showed that using the diabetes drug Actos on the mice reduced the inflammation. Actos (pioglitazone) is a drug in the class thiazolidiones (TZDs), the same class of drug that created Avandia, the controversial diabetes medication that may cause an increased risk of heart attacks.
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At last a definite report about belly fat. It has always been a factor in Metaboloic Syndrome but without any explanation why. Let’s hope this inspires more people to exercise so that they get the other benefits as well as just reducing their belly.
Actos is associated with as much as a 30% of body weight increase in weight. In my lay person’s view, reducing inflamation should come from another source. When I was on Actos, I excercised religiously for more than an hour each day and could not lose weight. After exchanging Actos for insulin, I began to lose weight, even though insulin is also associated with weight gain.