We're told so often to eat healthy and get regular exercise that
the reasons for doing so can get lost in the message. Numerous research
studies make the connection between a healthy lifestyle and a decreased
risk in disease, leading to a longer life. But what's the mechanism
behind this?
Diet and exercise alter hormone balance
Scientists from the National Center for Tumor Diseases in Heidelberg suggest that one of the reasons that diet and exercise are so successful is because they impact hormone production. There are two primary hormones that are produced by fat tissue: adiponectin and leptin. Adiponectin is anti-inflammatory and works to increase the effect of insulin, while leptin is capable of fueling tumor cell growth. The two hormones are balanced in a healthy way when adiponectin levels are high and leptin levels are low.
With this in mind, the researchers looked at the effect of diet and exercise on these hormones. They followed 439 obese women over the age of 50 for a full year. One group made no changes to their lifestyle to act as a control. A second group made changes to diet alone, while a third changed just exercise habits. The final group altered both diet and exercise.
The results showed that leptin production was decreased in all three of the groups that made a change, but the largest decrease was seen in the group that changed diet and exercise simultaneously. An even more significant finding was that the more weight a person lost, the healthier their balance of hormones. This remained true across all groups, regardless of whether they lost weight by changing their diet or through exercise.
The numbers were noteworthy. Some of the women who lost 10 percent of their body weight saw over a 50 percent decrease in leptin, accompanied by a 20 percent increase in adiponectin.
The bottom line
Diet, exercise, and any resulting weight loss are about more than physical appearance. They have a substantial impact on hormone levels in the body, which play a major role in the prevention of disease. In addition, those who eat well, stay active and maintain a healthy weight can expect to live longer than those who don't. By incorporating nutrition and regular physical activity into your lifestyle, you are working to lower levels of a hormone linked to the growth of tumor cells and increase levels of a hormone that reduces inflammation.
Author : Shawna_Matthews
Diet and exercise alter hormone balance
Scientists from the National Center for Tumor Diseases in Heidelberg suggest that one of the reasons that diet and exercise are so successful is because they impact hormone production. There are two primary hormones that are produced by fat tissue: adiponectin and leptin. Adiponectin is anti-inflammatory and works to increase the effect of insulin, while leptin is capable of fueling tumor cell growth. The two hormones are balanced in a healthy way when adiponectin levels are high and leptin levels are low.
With this in mind, the researchers looked at the effect of diet and exercise on these hormones. They followed 439 obese women over the age of 50 for a full year. One group made no changes to their lifestyle to act as a control. A second group made changes to diet alone, while a third changed just exercise habits. The final group altered both diet and exercise.
The results showed that leptin production was decreased in all three of the groups that made a change, but the largest decrease was seen in the group that changed diet and exercise simultaneously. An even more significant finding was that the more weight a person lost, the healthier their balance of hormones. This remained true across all groups, regardless of whether they lost weight by changing their diet or through exercise.
The numbers were noteworthy. Some of the women who lost 10 percent of their body weight saw over a 50 percent decrease in leptin, accompanied by a 20 percent increase in adiponectin.
The bottom line
Diet, exercise, and any resulting weight loss are about more than physical appearance. They have a substantial impact on hormone levels in the body, which play a major role in the prevention of disease. In addition, those who eat well, stay active and maintain a healthy weight can expect to live longer than those who don't. By incorporating nutrition and regular physical activity into your lifestyle, you are working to lower levels of a hormone linked to the growth of tumor cells and increase levels of a hormone that reduces inflammation.
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