A new study has revealed that losing just a few pounds can help reset the immune system, significantly lowering the risk of diseases such as dementia and cancer.
According to researchers, efforts to lose weight make fat cells in the body healthier. When a person is severely overweight, fat tissues in the body produce harmful inflammation, which puts pressure on the immune system.
Scientists from University of Southern Denmark state that when people lose weight, the new fat cells formed in the body are less likely to cause such inflammation, making them less harmful. This means that even if a person is unable to lose all excess fat, their health can still improve.
For this study, scientists examined samples from individuals who had undergone gastric bypass surgery and lost between 20 to 45 percent of their body weight over two years. The changes observed were remarkable, with a significant reduction in immune cells, and several types of immune cells reaching levels typically seen in lean individuals.
Published in the journal Nature Metabolism, the research also found improvements in blood circulation and a reduction in genetic errors, which may potentially lower the risk of cancer.
Co-author Professor Susanne Mandrup said the findings show that even modest weight loss can be beneficial for health. After significant weight loss, fat tissue largely resembles that of lean individuals, suggesting that the “memory” of obesity is not as permanent as previously believed.
