Scientific Analysis of the Root Causes of Obesity: The Role of Fat Cells and Trace Elements

Why is obesity caused by changes in fat cells?

Through in-depth research by many scholars, it has now been largely clarified that obesity is not only related to fat cells, but it is precisely because of changes in fat cells—an increase in their number and size—that obesity occurs.

We know that the number of fat cells in the human body is mainly determined by congenital genetic factors, but it is also related to the amount of food intake and energy expenditure. Especially during infancy, the number of fat cells increases most rapidly. Therefore, during this period, infants should not be overnourished, otherwise they will become obese.

The increase in the size of human fat cells is mainly determined by the amount of food intake and energy expenditure.

The size of normal human fat cells is generally 67–98 micrometers, containing about 0.60 micrograms of fat. If food intake is high and energy expenditure is low, the volume of fat cells can double, reaching 127–134 micrometers, and the fat content can reach 0.91–1.50 micrograms. If fat cells enlarge and cannot accommodate all the deposited fat, then new adipocytes will divide to take over the task.

Adipocytes can only enlarge or shrink, exhibiting considerable plasticity. Therefore, a person can lose weight. Generally, mild to moderate obesity in young people, or obesity in older adults without a history of childhood obesity, is mostly caused by enlarged adipocytes, and these individuals tend to achieve better weight loss results.

Why is obesity related to micronutrient deficiency?

Why does micronutrient deficiency cause obesity? Because various micronutrients are essential for normal human growth. Modern research confirms that essential micronutrients include iron, iodine, fluorine, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, cobalt, manganese, and molybdenum. Although micronutrients account for only a few ten-thousandths to tens of billions of parts of body weight, their role is crucial. This is because micronutrients have high biological activity, participating in numerous enzyme activation reactions and maintaining the normal metabolic processes of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

The trace element chromium has a significant relationship with lipid metabolism. Animal experiments have shown that 19% of chromium-deficient older animals develop aortic plaques, compared to only 2% in those without chromium deficiency. Furthermore, chromium deficiency can lead to impaired glucose metabolism, resulting in hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and obesity.

Iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism and a decreased basal metabolic rate, leading to obesity or myxedema.

Deficiencies in trace elements such as selenium, vanadium, and zinc are also directly or indirectly related to obesity.