PhD conferral Ms Nadia J.T. Roumans

Keywords: yo-yo effect, stress in fat cells, immune system

It is so frustrating to finally lose some weight only to gain it back almost immediately. Research conducted at Maastricht University provides new insight into the way this yo-yo effect works. When we lose weight, our fat cells lose some of the fat they have stored. As a result, the cytoskeleton does not match the cell volume anymore. That is why the fat cells will develop stress. A fat cell can lose stress by hormonally stimulating the host to eat more and store fat in the fat cells. This will lead to weight gain. In addition to stress in fat cells, the immune system plays a role in this process, too.