Allison

So that means that those genes are turning, pumping out certain proteins that do certain things in that particular cell. So what these folks did is they wanted to understand what is the epigenome, meaning what are the genes that are turned on or off or upregulated or downregulated in fat tissue and fat cells. And does the epigenome change

So that means that those genes are turning, pumping out certain proteins that do certain things in that particular cell. So what these folks did is they wanted to understand what is the epigenome, meaning what are the genes that are turned on or off or upregulated or downregulated in fat tissue and fat cells. And does the epigenome change

when an individual loses weight, so once they're obese and they lose weight, do the fat cells actually change their epigenome or do they have an epigenetic memory? Meaning that those cells, even though the person has lost weight, those cells still continue to act as if that person were obese.

when an individual loses weight, so once they're obese and they lose weight, do the fat cells actually change their epigenome or do they have an epigenetic memory? Meaning that those cells, even though the person has lost weight, those cells still continue to act as if that person were obese.

So I'll tell you, in humans, they basically took five individuals that were obese and lost more than 25% BMI. And they looked at the epigenome, they looked at the markers of what genes are upregulated and downregulated before and after they lost the weight.

So I'll tell you, in humans, they basically took five individuals that were obese and lost more than 25% BMI. And they looked at the epigenome, they looked at the markers of what genes are upregulated and downregulated before and after they lost the weight.

After they lost the weight, there were a set of markers that were still upregulated that are associated with poor metabolism and increased fibrosis and increased cellular death. So these are inflammatory genes. These are genes that are associated with the cells being inefficient at utilizing glucose to create energy.

After they lost the weight, there were a set of markers that were still upregulated that are associated with poor metabolism and increased fibrosis and increased cellular death. So these are inflammatory genes. These are genes that are associated with the cells being inefficient at utilizing glucose to create energy.

And so these cells continue to act like slow dying cells, even after the person lost weight. And they did the same thing in mice and they found similar results that they caused these mice to gain weight, looked at the epigenome of the fat cells, and then looked at the epigenome after they lost the weight. And again, the mouse epigenome continued to act as if the mouse was obese.

And so these cells continue to act like slow dying cells, even after the person lost weight. And they did the same thing in mice and they found similar results that they caused these mice to gain weight, looked at the epigenome of the fat cells, and then looked at the epigenome after they lost the weight. And again, the mouse epigenome continued to act as if the mouse was obese.

And what this means is that the metabolism remained reduced, fibrosis remained elevated and likelihood of cell death remained elevated. So now they applied glucose in a petri dish to those cells, and they saw that the glucose had a harder time being fully being appropriately utilized from a healthy fat cell that hadn't been obese.

And what this means is that the metabolism remained reduced, fibrosis remained elevated and likelihood of cell death remained elevated. So now they applied glucose in a petri dish to those cells, and they saw that the glucose had a harder time being fully being appropriately utilized from a healthy fat cell that hadn't been obese.

So it actually permanently alters and creates an epigenetic memory in the fat cells after obesity. And this could explain pretty significantly why when people that have been obese lose the weight, they are more likely to gain the weight back and have a hard time keeping the weight off.

So it actually permanently alters and creates an epigenetic memory in the fat cells after obesity. And this could explain pretty significantly why when people that have been obese lose the weight, they are more likely to gain the weight back and have a hard time keeping the weight off.

Well, the problem, what we do see in all those results, that when you go off of the GLP-1 agonist drugs, you gain the weight back very quickly. This is some amount of the weight.

Well, the problem, what we do see in all those results, that when you go off of the GLP-1 agonist drugs, you gain the weight back very quickly. This is some amount of the weight.

It's a pretty significant bounce back effect. And this is pretty well documented. And so I think that it speaks to the why. Now, it also introduces an opportunity. There are molecules that can turn certain genes on or off, can now be identified and utilized to change that epigenetic memory.

It's a pretty significant bounce back effect. And this is pretty well documented. And so I think that it speaks to the why. Now, it also introduces an opportunity. There are molecules that can turn certain genes on or off, can now be identified and utilized to change that epigenetic memory.

This could arise from things like increased exercise. It turns out that when you do significant amounts of cardiovascular exercise, There are certain genes that are expressed that trigger other genes to switch on or off.

This could arise from things like increased exercise. It turns out that when you do significant amounts of cardiovascular exercise, There are certain genes that are expressed that trigger other genes to switch on or off.