Body fat and cholesterol - what is the relationship between the two?

Have you ever looked at a blood test report and thought, "Oh, my cholesterol seems a little high"? Or have you ever felt a little scared or worried when you gained a little weight, wondering, "Will this affect my cholesterol?" This is actually a question that many people have. There is a bigger connection between weight and cholesterol than you might think. So today, let's talk about this very simply and in a friendly way.

Why does cholesterol increase when you gain weight?

First, let's understand this. Cholesterol is not entirely bad. Our liver makes some cholesterol for many important functions in our body, such as building cells and producing vitamin D. It is essential for our body.

But the problem starts when the balance between these two types of cholesterol is lost. Simply put, there are two types: "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol."

• LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): This is the "bad cholesterol" . When these increase in the blood, they start to deposit like oil on the walls of our blood vessels. Just like dirt builds up inside a water pipe. In medicine, we call this `(Atherosclerosis)`. When the arteries start to become clogged in this way, blood flow is obstructed, and the risk of serious conditions like heart attack and stroke increases greatly.
• HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): This is the "good cholesterol." It's like a superhero. It picks up the bad cholesterol that's stuck in your blood vessels and takes it to the liver. The liver then removes it from the body.

Now you understand, right? The problem is that bad (LDL) cholesterol increases and good (HDL) cholesterol decreases.

So, how does this balance get disrupted when body weight increases, or obesity occurs?

Imagine, as our body gains weight, it means that more fat is deposited, especially around the abdominal area . From this extra fat tissue, a type of fat called ``free fatty acids`` is released and goes directly to our liver.

When the liver receives more fatty acids in this way, it increases the production of another type of fat called ``Triglycerides.'' When these triglyceride levels increase, it directly increases the level of bad cholesterol (LDL).

Not only that, being overweight also increases the risk of developing a condition called insulin resistance . This is a precursor to diabetes. This insulin resistance can also disrupt fat production in the liver and increase cholesterol levels.

How does losing weight control cholesterol?

Here's the good news. Don't be afraid to hear all this. We can reverse this entire process by controlling our weight.

When you lose weight, the amount of extra fat tissue in your body decreases. This in turn reduces the amount of free fatty acids that enter the liver. This in turn controls the production of triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL).

Also, when you lose weight and become a little more active, that insulin resistance we talked about also improves. All of this helps your cholesterol levels get closer to a healthy level.

How much weight do you want to lose?

"Oh, so I have to lose a lot of weight?" you might think. But no, it's not. Even if you lose a small amount of weight, like 4-5 kilos , you can see a big, positive difference in your cholesterol levels.

In one study, people who lost just 5% of their body weight saw significant reductions in their LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. That means if you weigh 80 kg, losing even 4 kg can make a big difference.

Things you can do to lose weight and control cholesterol

This may seem like a big challenge, but we can start with a few small changes. Let's see what those are.

Before starting any of these lifestyle changes, especially if you have other medical conditions, it's wise to talk to your family doctor for advice. He or she will give you the best advice for your health condition.

Cholesterol, weight loss, overweight, heart disease, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, healthy eating, exercise, obesity, triglycerides