A research found that people who lose weight causing high levels of pollutants in their blood might be at risk to develop health problems.
According to the study posted in International Journal of Obesity, people who lost weight have higher serum levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as compared with people who maintained their body weight and those who continuous to gain weight.
Persistent organic pollutants are organic compounds generated as waste products of industrial and environmental processes that include chemical burning, biological degeneration, and photolytic procedures. It posts potential human health and environment impacts. Previous studies show significant relationships of the high levels of POPs in human with development of diseases such as diabetes, dementia, and cardiovascular problems.
POPs possess low solubility in water but are highly soluble in fats. It is semi-volatile and has high molecular mass. These are the reasons why the POPs are stored in human fats when the compound enters the body. It can easily pass the lipid barrier thus can accumulate in fatty tissues.
When losing weight, a person burns the body fats resulting in the release of these compounds in the bloodstream. The chemical may travel inside the body and may damage organs such as the liver, the brain, and the heart.
Researchers observed a population of 1,099 adults in the year 1999 to 2002. They monitor the prevalence of seven kinds of persistent organic compounds in the population.
Their data revealed that POPs serum levels are notably higher in participants who are dieting and exercising to lose body weight. Moreover, people who had continued to lose weight over the years have higher POPs levels than those who just recently started losing weight.
The result may explain and prove the link between weight loss and additional risks to develop diseases such as heart problems and deaths that other previous studies claim, a research says.
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