4 ms·

The lipostat theory is quite interesting. This is pure conjecture, but its already known that plastics can impact estrogen levels, I wonder if plastics also hav

The lipostat theory is quite interesting. This is pure conjecture, but its already known that plastics can impact estrogen levels, I wonder if plastics also have some, yet unknown, impact on metabolism that is upsetting lipostatic homeostasis. Estrogen, cortisol and testosterone all operate in a delicate, interrelated balance, so it's not too big a leap.

Pyramus 5y ago
I don't think you have to go all the way to plastics and chemicals (not saying that they aren't potentially playing their part). Take a simple model with a combination of all the factors the author discusses (type of diet, sugar, trans-fats, caloric intake, processed foods, exercise, genetics etc), allow interaction between the factors, and have the lipostat as the dependent variable. I.e. several factors together will, over time, upregulate the lipostat. A relatively simple model that evades the authors objections, yet might fit the data.
BBC-vs-neolibs 5y ago
Also the increase in thyroid disease, especially among women, may be related.
derbOac 5y ago
For some reason when I read the lipostat section I was reminded of decreases in average body temperature trends over time -- probably because of the temperature analogies. I've sometimes wondered if microbiome factors are in play, and by extension, things like antibiotic use (maybe there are some studies about antibiotic exposure and weight gain?). I've usually thought of it in terms of microbiome -> gut -> digestion though, and the lipostat section made me wonder if it's more like microbiome -> "immune response" -> caloric expenditure.
- elliekelly 5y ago
  Where can I read more about this?
  - derbOac 5y ago
    The body temperature decreases? This study was being discussed quite a bit when it came out, although there was prior work on it: https://elifesciences.org/articles/49555 https://elifesciences.org/articles/49555 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-human-body-temperatures-cooling-down/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-human-body-te... One hypothesis is that there's been a decline in baseline immune activity with decreased exposure to pathogens, better sanitation, better treatment of infections, etc. But people don't know for sure. I'm not sure that it applies to the obesity crisis as temps have been declining over a longer time period than what seems to be involved in that. But it got me wondering if there's something like that that might have came into play later. My guess is no, that it's something else, but I could see how antibiotic use might somehow be involved.
nradov 5y ago
In particular phthalates (plastic softeners) are suspected to reduce testosterone. Lower testosterone is linked to fat gain.

Pyramus 5y ago

I don't think you have to go all the way to plastics and chemicals (not saying that they aren't potentially playing their part). Take a simple model with a combination of all the factors the author discusses (type of diet, sugar, trans-fats, caloric intake, processed foods, exercise, genetics etc), allow interaction between the factors, and have the lipostat as the dependent variable. I.e. several factors together will, over time, upregulate the lipostat. A relatively simple model that evades the authors objections, yet might fit the data.

BBC-vs-neolibs 5y ago

Also the increase in thyroid disease, especially among women, may be related.

derbOac 5y ago

For some reason when I read the lipostat section I was reminded of decreases in average body temperature trends over time -- probably because of the temperature analogies. I've sometimes wondered if microbiome factors are in play, and by extension, things like antibiotic use (maybe there are some studies about antibiotic exposure and weight gain?). I've usually thought of it in terms of microbiome -> gut -> digestion though, and the lipostat section made me wonder if it's more like microbiome -> "immune response" -> caloric expenditure.

elliekelly 5y ago
Where can I read more about this?
- derbOac 5y ago
  The body temperature decreases? This study was being discussed quite a bit when it came out, although there was prior work on it: https://elifesciences.org/articles/49555 https://elifesciences.org/articles/49555 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-human-body-temperatures-cooling-down/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-human-body-te... One hypothesis is that there's been a decline in baseline immune activity with decreased exposure to pathogens, better sanitation, better treatment of infections, etc. But people don't know for sure. I'm not sure that it applies to the obesity crisis as temps have been declining over a longer time period than what seems to be involved in that. But it got me wondering if there's something like that that might have came into play later. My guess is no, that it's something else, but I could see how antibiotic use might somehow be involved.

nradov 5y ago

In particular phthalates (plastic softeners) are suspected to reduce testosterone. Lower testosterone is linked to fat gain.