Danish researchers investigated whether fat tissue can completely recover after significant weight loss or if it retains a “memory” of having experienced obesity. The study, published in the respected journal Nature Metabolism, asserts that it can.
The investigation was headed by Anne Loft, Jesper Grud Skjøt Madsen, and Professor Susanne Mandrup from the University of Southern Denmark. Specialists from the ATLAS Center of Excellence meticulously examined what occurs at the cellular level in the fat tissue of individuals with severe obesity during the weight loss process.
The observation was conducted in three phases: prior to intervention, following a moderate loss of 5–10 percent of weight via diet, and two years after bariatric surgery, when patients lost 20–45 percent of their body mass. Advanced methods for studying individual cells were utilized for the analysis.
“When we analyzed fat tissue samples taken two years post-surgery, following substantial weight reduction, the alterations were striking. The number of immune cells significantly decreased… to levels typically observed in lean individuals,” explains Anne Loft.
These modifications are crucial, as immune cells are precisely what trigger chronic inflammation and diminish the tissue’s sensitivity to insulin. Eliminating this factor directly reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, the scientists recorded an increase in the number of blood vessel cells, leading to improved oxygen and nutrient supply for the tissue. Gene expression analysis across all cell types demonstrated that two years post-surgery, it normalized to figures characteristic of a normal-weight body.
Thus, the research confirmed: serious and sustained weight loss not only lessens health risks but also allows fat tissue to fully reinstate itself, erasing the “memory” of metabolic disruptions caused by obesity.
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