The ‘W’ Word
At Goodall Healthcare Group, our services stretch further than just the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injury. We recognise every service user has their own background and that this heavily contributes to the way in which injuries present and what their recovery process looks like.
Recently, a member of GHG came across an interesting article, suggesting that obesity causes inflammation of the hippocampus and other surrounding brain structures, affecting the signalling within the body, that allows us to understand when we are satiated. The study, published in June 2023, suggested that “post-ingestive brain activity is blunted” in individuals with obesity. Let’s explore what this means.
What are nutrient signals?
When we eat, our body released hormones which basically signal to us that we are full. Similarly, our stomach expands (gastric distention) as another signal which limits our meals sizes. However, foods high in sugar or fat can override these signals – therefore promoting over-eating. This is due to the release of “striatal dopamine” which is involved in feelings of reward or motivation. This thereby creates a signalling process in which a glucose heavy meal may correlate with feelings of positivity.
A prolonged period of over-eating, alongside largely sedentary lifestyles, cumulatively leads to impaired signalling over time. This is where the 2023 study comes in, they hypothesised that this impaired response could be reversed with diet-induced weight loss.Results found that insulin resistance improved with weight loss. This is great news and follows our current understanding of conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, in which weight maintenance is key to settling blood glucose levels. However, they did find that the “striatal responses” (relating back to the idea of rewarding eating behaviours) are not reversible with weight loss.
What does this mean for patients at GHG?
This effectively means that we have taken a step forward in understanding the pathophysiology behind obesity, something which is key to shift the current thought process when dealing with patients who are overweight/obese. We understand that for many who struggle with their weight, responses in the past may have been dismissive in other spheres, a though-process which we do not tolerate at GHG and are determined to be leaders to change.
At Goodall Healthcare Group, we have always understood the challenges that present themselves when people are on a weight loss journey and how weight management is an important factor in rehabilitation of Musculo-skeletal conditions.This is why we have a comprehensive weight management service, tailored to the needs of each user. Weight is not simply the equation of calories consumed minus calories burned. It comprises of stress levels, activity levels, socio-economic considerations and ultimately the relationship everyone has curated with what’s in front of them.
We have curated a tailored programme based on individual needs using the experts within our MDT. Our talking therapist and social prescriber can help you understand your relationship with food and refer you to local initiatives to help with increasing activity. Our personal training and nutrition services provide a patient-centric programme that fits around your lifestyle. This is all lead by our MSK experts, who will ensure injury prevention and effective rehabilitation during your journey.
So, if you are struggling with your weight journey at the moment or generally just feel like getting into better habits with exercise, don’t hesitate, contact us today.
Link to paper: