What happens to our weight when we lose it? Researchers from the
University of New South Wales now think that the majority of our weight loss
is breathed out in the form of CO2. Their statements are evidenced in a paper
published in The BMJ.
The common believe is that the fat is converted into energy or heat,
but, according to the lead researchers at NSW, this defies the law of the
conservation of mass. What they found instead was that carbs and proteins are
converted into triglycerides. By losing weight, we are trying to metabolize
these triglycerides, simultaneously maintaining their fat-free mass and keeping
it intact. The triglycerides themselves are formed of three atoms, carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen. The only way to break down such atoms is to oxidise them,
hence the CO2.
They followed these atoms and saw that when 10 kg of fat was broken
down in this way, 8.4 kg of this fat was excreted from the lungs as CO2. The
rest became water. This shows that the lungs play the biggest part in the
getting rid of weight.
Engaging in an activity like jogging for one hour increases the rate
of the metabolism by 70% but weight loss will all depend on how much you eat.
It is always the same advice: lower the intake of calories and increase the
amount of exercise. Keep what is coming in low and what is coming out high.
What happens to us when we lose weight? We feel happy, healthier,
more in control, and, according to a recent study, losing a mere 5 pounds could
decrease a woman’s risk of dying from cancer of the breast, dramatically.
A study carried out by The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study,
tracked 2,400 women, over a period of 20 years, after they had been treated.
The results showed that 10 years later, mortality rates were almost 70% lower
among the women who had lost weight, even the most vigorous and dangerous of
the cancer types.
This has proven that diet has even more of an impact on the
development of cancer than ever thought. Related studies looked at similar
women who cut out the fat intake in their diet, but not the overall calorie
consumption, and, similar results were not conveyed. This shows that weight
loss is likely to be more important in this regard than getting rid of fat from
the diet.
These findings are being touted as just as good as any drug. For a
small number of women who have very limited options, weight loss should be high
on the list. This study is a real eye opener no doubt research in this area
will now be coming in thick and fast.
More information can be read here.