Power to the People

I was fortunate to be in Istanbul last month, at the European Congress on Obesity. “ECO” happens once a year, when the great and the good of the obesity world get together to discuss their latest research. And then people like me get to go and listen! The temptation to spend the warm afternoons in Turkish cafes is strong, but not as strong as the coffee itself. Very rich, dark, and refreshing. But inbetween catching up with colleagues and old friends from around Europe I have managed to listen to some fascinating research.

One story that has caught my attention has been the close link between being very overweight and iron deficiency. It seems that a large percentage of people with weight problems also have a deficiency of this essential micronutrient. Iron is important for so many critical body processes, but perhaps best known for its role in creating haemoglobin, the chemical in our red blood cells that conveys oxygen around the body. A lack of iron leads to iron deficiency anaemia which can show itself though tiredness, pale complexion, and in extreme cases, breathlessness. I thought it might have been due to a poor supply of iron in the type of foods that overweight people might choose, but I was wrong. Being overweight creates inflammation, something I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, but it also changes the way the body responds to hepcedin, a chemical that helps the body absorb iron from the gut. In short, being overweight prevents the uptake of iron and that’s what leads to a deficiency – and taking extra supplements will not help.  That’s powerful information. So it seems to me therefore that it’s more important than ever to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet even when we’re trying to lose weight by reducing calorific intake.

I’ve been studying the science behind overweight and obesity for many years. I doubt I’ll ever understand it fully. There is so much more to understand. And in order to keep doing my bit to help people regain control of their lives I’ll keep on learning. As my father used to say when I was a child, “knowledge is power”. Power to the people, I say.

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