Insulin Driven MOoecular Transcription Factor - A lot to do withfat accumulation

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1206184138.htm

Movement Comes With Appetite

ScienceDaily (Dec. 21, 2009) — A body that is provided with food too
often gets caught up in the maelstrom of a lack of exercise, obesity and
ultimately diabetes. The trigger is a molecular switch that is
controlled by insulin, a new study by scientists from ETH Zurich has
revealed.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
And nothing in between: no snacks, no sweets, not even anything we think
of as healthy. For in order to stay healthy the body needs to fast
between meals. At least this is what nutritionists would recommend were
they to translate the results of a new study from ETH Zurich into
practical terms. After all, the research group headed by Markus Stoffel,
a professor from the Institute of Molecular Systems Biology at ETH
Zurich, has discovered an important molecular mechanism that underlies a
lack of exercise and therefore obesity.

The researchers present their findings in the current issue of the
journal Nature.

Hunger makes you active

The key switch player in this is a transcription factor called Foxa2.
Transcription factors are proteins that make sure other genes are
activated and converted into proteins. Foxa2 is found in the liver,
where it influences fatburning, but also in two important neuron
populations in the hypothalamus -- the region of the brain that controls
the daily rhythm, sleep, intake of food and sexual behavior. The control
element for Foxa2 activity is insulin, in both the liver and the
hypothalamus.

If a person or animal ingests food, the beta cells in the pancreas
release insulin, which blocks Foxa2. When fasting, there is a lack of
insulin and Foxa2 is active. In the brain, the scientists have
discovered, Foxa2 assists the formation of two proteins: MCH and orexin.
These two brain messenger substances trigger different behavior
patterns: the intake of food and spontaneous movement. If mammals are
hungry, they are more alert and physically active. In short, they hunt
and look for food. "If you watch a cat or a dog before feeding it, you
can see this very clearly," says Stoffel.

Explanation found for lack of movement

The researchers discovered a disorder in obese mice: in these animals,
Foxa2 is permanently active, regardless of whether the animals are
fasting or full. This explains a well-known but until now unaccountable
phenomenon: the lack of movement in obese people and animals.

To prove this, the researchers used a genetic trick to breed mice, in
the brains of which Foxa2 is always active, regardless of whether they
have just eaten or are fasting. These mice produce more MCH and orexin
and move five times more than normal animals, in which insulin
deactivates Foxa2 after eating or which are obese. The genetically
modified mice lose fatty tissue and form larger muscles. Their sugar and
fat metabolism works flat out and their blood values are considerably
improved.

Three meals a day suffice

For Stoffel, the study clearly shows that, "The body needs fasting
periods to stay healthy." Moreover, you should make sure you have a good
body weight. He therefore doesn't think much of eating many little meals
spread out over the day; it is better to eat less frequently but well,
and leave room in between to get hungry. After all, because insulin is
released during every meal, thus suppressing Foxa2, the motivation to do
physical exercise and burn sugar and fat visibly decreases.

In article ,
pamela wrote:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1206184138.htm

Movement Comes With Appetite

ScienceDaily (Dec. 21, 2009) ‹ A body that is provided with food too
often gets caught up in the maelstrom of a lack of exercise, obesity and
ultimately diabetes. The trigger is a molecular switch that is
controlled by insulin, a new study by scientists from ETH Zurich has
revealed.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
And nothing in between: no snacks, no sweets, not even anything we think
of as healthy. For in order to stay healthy the body needs to fast
between meals. At least this is what nutritionists would recommend were
they to translate the results of a new study from ETH Zurich into
practical terms. After all, the research group headed by Markus Stoffel,
a professor from the Institute of Molecular Systems Biology at ETH
Zurich, has discovered an important molecular mechanism that underlies a
lack of exercise and therefore obesity.

The researchers present their findings in the current issue of the
journal Nature.

Hunger makes you active

The key switch player in this is a transcription factor called Foxa2.
Transcription factors are proteins that make sure other genes are
activated and converted into proteins. Foxa2 is found in the liver,
where it influences fatburning, but also in two important neuron
populations in the hypothalamus -- the region of the brain that controls
the daily rhythm, sleep, intake of food and sexual behavior. The control
element for Foxa2 activity is insulin, in both the liver and the
hypothalamus.

If a person or animal ingests food, the beta cells in the pancreas
release insulin, which blocks Foxa2. When fasting, there is a lack of
insulin and Foxa2 is active. In the brain, the scientists have
discovered, Foxa2 assists the formation of two proteins: MCH and orexin.
These two brain messenger substances trigger different behavior
patterns: the intake of food and spontaneous movement. If mammals are
hungry, they are more alert and physically active. In short, they hunt
and look for food. "If you watch a cat or a dog before feeding it, you
can see this very clearly," says Stoffel.

Explanation found for lack of movement

The researchers discovered a disorder in obese mice: in these animals,
Foxa2 is permanently active, regardless of whether the animals are
fasting or full. This explains a well-known but until now unaccountable
phenomenon: the lack of movement in obese people and animals.

This is strange. I've never noticed this link between girth and activity.
As I've written previously, I trained in martial arts with a guy who was
seriously overweight. It didn't stop him from doing one-handed
cartwheels. If you watch football, you will also see some seriously over
weight linemen, but they are still considered athletes.

Funny thing about exercising, once you are acclimated to your work-outs,
your body misses them, if you skip them, and your body will complain.

Whether obesity is a genetic trait (which wouldn't explain our recent
obesity epidemic) or an unknown disease, you will be healthier if you
exercise.


To prove this, the researchers used a genetic trick to breed mice, in
the brains of which Foxa2 is always active, regardless of whether they
have just eaten or are fasting. These mice produce more MCH and orexin
and move five times more than normal animals, in which insulin
deactivates Foxa2 after eating or which are obese. The genetically
modified mice lose fatty tissue and form larger muscles. Their sugar and
fat metabolism works flat out and their blood values are considerably
improved.

Three meals a day suffice

For Stoffel, the study clearly shows that, "The body needs fasting
periods to stay healthy." Moreover, you should make sure you have a good
body weight. He therefore doesn't think much of eating many little meals
spread out over the day; it is better to eat less frequently but well,
and leave room in between to get hungry. After all, because insulin is
released during every meal, thus suppressing Foxa2, the motivation to do
physical exercise and burn sugar and fat visibly decreases.
--
³When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.²
-Archbishop Helder Camara

http://tinyurl.com/o63ruj
http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm

On Dec 22, 7:49*pm, Wildbilly wrote:
Explanation found for lack of movement

The researchers discovered a disorder in obese mice: in these animals,
Foxa2 is permanently active, regardless of whether the animals are
fasting or full. This explains a well-known but until now unaccountable
phenomenon: the lack of movement in obese people and animals.

This is strange. I've never noticed this link between girth and activity.


You must live in a special place, because this is nothing strange to
most of us. In my life experience, being sedentary and obesity are
linked. The most active people I've seen tend to be normal weight or
a little overweight, but not obese. Likewise, the obese I've seen,
as a group, are less active.


As I've written previously, I trained in martial arts with a guy who was
seriously overweight. It didn't stop him from doing one-handed
cartwheels.

It didn't stop him, but it did stop the other 100 that you didn't see
coming to the martial arts class.


If you watch football, you will also see some seriously over
weight linemen, but they are still considered athletes.

And how many of those football players are there compared to the
millions of obese people who aren't athletes, but instead get little
regular vigorous exercise? Sumo wrestlers could be considered
athletes too, but it doesn't make it a healthy lefestyle.

wrote:
Wildbilly wrote:

This is strange. I've never noticed this link between girth and activity.

You must live in a special place, because this is nothing strange to
most of us. In my life experience, being sedentary and obesity are
linked. The most active people I've seen tend to be normal weight or
a little overweight, but not obese. Likewise, the obese I've seen,
as a group, are less active.

Some folks don't understand the concept of a statistical trend. They
think if they can come up with a counterexample then there is no trend.
Wildbilly is not alone in that issue.

If you watch football, you will also see some seriously over
weight linemen, but they are still considered athletes.

And how many of those football players are there compared to the
millions of obese people who aren't athletes, but instead get little
regular vigorous exercise?

What isn't answered by the correlation between obesity and a sedentary
lifestyle is cause and effect. Does one cause the other or are they
both caused by the same thing? The fact that so few can exercise
themselves into weight loss but a lot can diet themsevles into weight
loss does not help. The fact that those who exercise have a far higher
chance of keeping it off could suggest that the sedentary lifestyle is
the cause but only if you ignore the early phases.

Sumo wrestlers could be considered
athletes too, but it doesn't make it a healthy lefestyle.

Sumo wrestlers use the old food pyramid that is also used to fatten pigs.

In article ,
Doug Freyburger wrote:


Wildbilly wrote:

This is strange. I've never noticed this link between girth and activity.


Some folks don't understand the concept of a statistical trend. They
think if they can come up with a counterexample then there is no trend.
Wildbilly is not alone in that issue.


What isn't answered by the correlation between obesity and a sedentary
lifestyle is cause and effect. Does one cause the other or are they
both caused by the same thing? The fact that so few can exercise
themselves into weight loss but a lot can diet themsevles into weight
loss does not help. The fact that those who exercise have a far higher
chance of keeping it off could suggest that the sedentary lifestyle is
the cause but only if you ignore the early phases.

Thing is, that people I know who would be categorized as "obese", are
working people, be they teachers, farmers, or martial arts instructors.
I don't know any that might be likened to Jabba the Hutt and his
sedentary ways.

And, what is this concept of a statistical trend of which you speak? Can
you give an example that is relevant, with source?
--
"When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist."
-Archbishop Helder Camara

http://tinyurl.com/o63ruj
http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm

On Dec 30, 4:31*pm, Wildbilly wrote:
In article ,
*Doug Freyburger wrote:





Wildbilly wrote:

This is strange. I've never noticed this link between girth and activity.

Some folks don't understand the concept of a statistical trend. *They
think if they can come up with a counterexample then there is no trend.
Wildbilly is not alone in that issue.

What isn't answered by the correlation between obesity and a sedentary
lifestyle is cause and effect. *Does one cause the other or are they
both caused by the same thing? *The fact that so few can exercise
themselves into weight loss but a lot can diet themsevles into weight
loss does not help. *The fact that those who exercise have a far higher
chance of keeping it off could suggest that the sedentary lifestyle is
the cause but only if you ignore the early phases.

Thing is, that people I know who would be categorized as "obese", are
working people, be they teachers, farmers, or martial arts instructors.

Working and getting sufficient exercise are two very different
things. The only work related exercise the teacher would get would
be standing part of the day, which I'm sure helps, but I doubt it
meets any medical guidelines for healthy exercise. Plus, as they get
obese, people tend to want to engage in exercise less, ie the teacher
may spend even more time sitting down instead of standing. Farmers
of years gone by got a lot of exercise and I'm sure many still do.
But today, someone who calls themselves a farmer, may mostly spend
time driving around the farm in a pickup or drive a tractor, using
cheap labor to do the physical work. As technology has advanced, the
need for physical labor has declined with it, to the point that today,
clearly working and physical activity are two very different things.


I don't know any that might be likened to Jabba the Hutt and his
sedentary ways.

You don't have to be anywhere near that extreme to be considered obese
and not getting enough exercise.



And, what is this concept of a statistical trend of which you speak? Can
you give an example that is relevant, with source?

The point I have tried to make, both here and in another thread, is
that one or even many counter examples doesn't prove anything. I've
known people that have smoked cigarettes all their lives and lived to
83. I'm sure many of us have. However, if you take a large group,
like all Americans, they will have a shortened lifespan compared to a
similar group that does not smoke. That I think is what Doug is
referring to as a statistical trend.


--
"When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist."
-Archbishop Helder Camara

http://tinyurl.com/o63rujhttp://coun...rts020709.htm- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -