Abstract:
Obesity in humans represents a cumulative retention of a tiny fraction of total energy intake as fat, which is accompanied by growth of the metabolically active, energy-demanding, lean body mass. Since the energy balance regulation operates irrespective of the excess fat storage, availability of the required energy supplies is a permissive condition for obesity development. It occurs predominantly among people genetically predisposed and/or living with social or mental challenges. I propose a theory in which the body responds to social disruptions as threats of a future lack of food by an adiposity force building a reserve of energy independent of the regulation of the energy balance. It is based on the assumption that our evolutionary development required collaboration in gathering and sharing of food, combined with precautionary measures against anticipated failing food supplies. Social challenges are perceived as such threats, which activate the adiposity force through the brain to instigate the growth of fat and lean mass by neuro-hormonal signalling. If both perceived social threats and food abundance continue, the adiposity force pushes the fat accretion process to continue without inhibition by feedback signals from the fat mass, eventually leading to more obesity, and more so among the genetically predisposed. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue \'Causes of obesity: theories, conjectures and evidence (Part I)\'.
摘要:
人类的肥胖代表了总能量摄入的一小部分作为脂肪的累积保留,伴随着代谢活跃的生长,能源要求高,瘦体重。由于能量平衡调节的运作与多余的脂肪储存无关,所需能量供应的可用性是肥胖发展的一个允许条件。它主要发生在遗传倾向和/或生活在社会或精神挑战中的人群中。我提出了一种理论,在这种理论中,身体通过肥胖力量建立独立于能量平衡调节的能量储备来应对社会破坏,这是对未来缺乏食物的威胁。它基于这样的假设,即我们的进化发展需要在收集和分享食物方面的合作,结合预防措施,防止预期的食品供应失败。社会挑战被视为这种威胁,它通过大脑激活肥胖力,通过神经激素信号刺激脂肪和瘦体重的增长。如果感知到的社会威胁和食物丰富都继续下去,肥胖力推动脂肪积聚过程继续,而不会受到来自脂肪质量的反馈信号的抑制,最终导致更多的肥胖,在遗传倾向者中更是如此。这篇文章是讨论会议问题的一部分,“肥胖的原因:理论,猜想和证据(第一部分)。