In a recent interview, actress Vidya Balan talked about her long-standing battle with weight gain despite maintaining a regular exercise routine and a balanced diet. He revealed that underlying inflammation in his body contributed to his weight challenges. By prioritizing a diet aimed at reducing inflammation and minimizing excessive workouts, she was able to lose weight very quickly.

While swelling can be caused by weight gain, it usually occurs when your body does not get adequate recovery time after vigorous exercise.

What is inflammation and how is it linked to weight gain?

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection. It helps protect and heal tissues, but over a long period of time it can become chronic, leading to diseases like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

Factors such as obesity and poor diet can increase inflammation. Research has shown that inflammation caused by excess body fat can contribute to many health problems.

Obesity and inflammation are separate processes in the body, but they are deeply interconnected, according to Dr Naval Mendiratta, Senior Consultant, Rheumatology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, who explained how obesity and Inflammation affects each other and affects overall health.

“Obesity is a major cause of internal inflammation due to excess white fat cells in the body. These cells release chemicals called cytokines that are normally part of the immune response, but in cases of obesity, they are produced abnormally, ” Dr. Mendiratta told IndiaToday.in.

This abnormal production leads to chronic, low-grade inflammation that can affect multiple organs.

While some people can have excess fat without significant inflammation, people with a high body mass index (BMI), especially above 24.5, are more likely to show elevated markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP).

“These inflammatory molecules can lead to health problems like diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and can even affect vital organs like the pancreas, heart and kidneys,” Dr. Mendiratta said.

Statistics show that obese people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes and have a 50% higher risk of heart disease than people of a healthy weight.

The intestine is also involved in this complex relationship. A new concept, metabolic endotoxemia, suggests that obesity alters the gut microbiota, which in turn promotes inflammation, promoting fat storage in a cycle that may perpetuate obesity.

Can exercise cause swelling?

Excessive exercise may actually be associated with inflammation, especially in cases of excessive training or when the body has not had enough time to recover. This creates hindrance in weight loss.

Stress Response: Intense and prolonged exercise can activate the body’s stress response, leading to an increase in markers of inflammation. This is a normal physiological response, but when exercise is excessive or done without adequate recovery, it can lead to chronic inflammation.

Muscle damage: High-intensity workouts can cause microtrauma to the muscles, resulting in pain and inflammation as the body works to repair damaged tissues. Although this is part of the normal healing process, excessive damage can prolong inflammation and hinder healing.

Effects on the immune system: While moderate exercise can boost the immune system, excessive training can actually suppress immune function. This may increase the risk of infection and, as a result, increase inflammation.

hormonal imbalance: Overtraining can upset the balance of hormones like cortisol, which can lead to an inflammatory response in the body. Increased cortisol levels over time can contribute to chronic inflammation.

Fatigue and Recovery: Inadequate rest and recovery can prevent the body from properly recovering after an intense workout, leading to long-term inflammatory responses and potential injury.

To ensure a healthy body weight, striking a balance between exercise and diet can help reduce inflammation.