Health & Science

Fat cells that last a lifetime; A genetic wonder; Why liberals are bummed; Don’t forget the IUD; Live and let die

Fat cells that last a lifetime

No wonder it’s so hard to lose weight: By the time we reach 20 years of age, a new study found, our bodies have essentially settled on the number of fat cells we’ll maintain for the rest of our lives. Swedish researchers took samples of fat cells from volunteers over the course of several years; they discovered that no matter how much the subjects’ weights changed, their number of fat cells did not. Starting at about age 20, fat cells grow or shrink with weight fluctuations, but the overall quantity of cells remains the same. Researchers found that even when obese people underwent gastric banding surgery, losing massive amounts of weight, fat cells weren’t actually lost—the existing fat cells just shrank. “Those fat cells aren’t going anywhere, and they’re crying out for more,” study author Dr. Kirsty Spalding tells BBCnews.com. “The real question,” Spalding said, “is what regulates this process, and where can we intervene?” The good news is that for kids and teens, at least, a healthy diet and regular exercise will help limit how many fat cells will accumulate—and hang around for a lifetime.

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