New imaging tool to track cellular events that may initiate obesity-related conditions

A collaborative team of researchers at Utah State University and the University of Central Florida developed a tool to track cellular events that may lead to obesity-related conditions in people.

The research findings were published Feb. 3 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The team, led by Anhong Zhou, a professor in USU's Department of Biological Engineering, developed a sensing optical imaging nanoprobe that uses scattered light to provide a structural fingerprint for molecules. The probes can be used to more easily identify and illustrate cell surface receptors that can either prompt or stop cellular responses to certain external stimuli. The probes make it possible to monitor multiple surface receptors on an individual cell and provide researchers an unprecedented view of cellular surface activity. Zhou and his team, including the biological engineering PhD student Wei Zhang, applied these novel nanoprobes to successfully detect the cell receptors that recognize fatty acids at the single living cell level.

The technique represents a major step in developing improved understanding of certain cellular events and could have widespread impact on the study of fat intake and the development of obesity. The new method could also be used as a simple screening technique for testing external stimuli that trigger the surface cell receptors and lead to the linking of fatty acids. This would make for an efficient test to ensure that new drugs accurately prompt the correct cellular activities that lead to obesity and other obesity-related conditions. Zhou and his team's work is increasingly relevant as the prevalence of obesity impacts public health in the United States.

 

Zhou says the research represents an exciting collaboration between researchers and aligns well with his belief that biological engineering is an important frontier in the scientific community.

This is an excellent example that fulfills our long-term goal of applying engineering tools to solve biology-driven problems. In the past several years, we have been thrilled to develop new cell-based assay technologies that potentially benefit human health problems like obesity. We are currently extending this technology for developing a new method for early cancer diagnosis."     Anhong Zhou, professor in USU's Department of Biological Engineering

This work was primarily supported by the National Science Foundation.

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Is it impossible for you to lose weight? Your personality may be to blame

Is it a problem for you to lose weight? Sometimes, you try everything from exercising to restricting your food intake. Yet, you don’t seem to be successful in losing those extra kilos. This can be very frustrating and annoying. You are often at a loss to understand as to why this happening. You may try changing your diet and shift to a different exercise regime. But nothing works. This may also, at times, send you running to a doctor’s clinic to figure out if there is any underlying health condition  that is preventing your weight loss. But here again you may find no answers.

Now it has come to light that personality affects the weight of a person. There is often a close connection between a person’s personality and various psychological disorders, but do you think these traits can cause weight gain?

Personality Types and Weight Gain

The Myers-Briggs test is one of the most popular personality tests available that is used vastly by psychologists to understand an individual’s personality traits.
There are 16 basic personality types that are typically denoted by alphabets. The basic traits include:
Extroversion (E) or Introversion (I) – Based on where your attention is focused
Sensing (S) or Intuition (I) – Based on how you accept information
Thinking (T) or Feeling (F) – Based on how you make a decision
Judging (J) or Perceiving (P) – Based on your outlook of the world

Studies have found that people with certain trait combinations may be more impulsive than others. These individuals stand a higher chance of gaining weight because of this impulsiveness. A specific study, of 500,000 individuals, reported that impulsive people may have a higher chance of succumbing to temptations and this could cause a 10 per cent increase in weight. This is not good if you are trying to lose weight.

Out of all the personality types, research shows that those with the ESTP type may be the most impulsive and could be more prone to reaching out for sugar-laden and high-calorie foods. People with this trait are connoisseurs of good food and they have more snacks.

Control the Impulses and Curb Weight Gain

Weight loss can be a difficult journey, especially if you have trouble controlling your impulsive eating. But nothing is impossible; here are a few steps to consider when trying to curb your temptations and lose weight:

Be kind to yourself

Don’t criticize the choices you made in the past, instead focus on the right ones you are going to take in the future. This is an important step because if you start off by being harsh to yourself, it will only lead to further complications like mood disorders that could also lead to eating disorders and weight gain.

Set reachable goals

Setting realistic goals are important because they provide you with an increased chance of achieving them, in contrast to those that are too far-fetched. Start out by ignoring a box of enticing doughnuts, maybe.

Understand your triggers

In many instances, hunger is not the only reason why someone eats, it could be a stressful situation at work or a fight with a loved one. Once you know the causes of your emotional binge eating, work toward handling those triggers more efficiently. This will help you lose weight.

Keep your friends and family informed

Keep your loved ones close because they can provide all the emotional support and encouragement you need to reach your goals.

Try a detox diet or intermittent fasting

Challenge the body to a stringent detox diet or intermittent fasting practices. This will help you understand your triggers while supporting your weight-loss goals.

Keep a journal/food log

Being mindful of what you put into your body plays an important role in getting to a healthy weight and even avoiding weight gain. It may also help to note the different emotions you feel, the situations that cause it and your reactions, especially if they are food related.

Weight gain is a common problem and regardless of whether you fall under the ESTP personality type or not, simple lifestyle changes can help you curb weight gain and even lose weight.

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