Obesity – Artificial Immune Systems

The Link Between Obesity, Weight Loss Surgery, and Immune Health

By Lillia Linsay | March 11, 2025

Obesity is more than just a weight issue; it significantly impacts immune function. Excess fat triggers chronic inflammation, making the body more vulnerable to infections and diseases. Over time, the immune system weakens, struggling to fight off pathogens effectively. This imbalance leads to increased risks of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers.

For individuals struggling with severe obesity, weight loss surgery offers a potential solution. Beyond shedding pounds, bariatric procedures help regulate immune responses by reducing inflammation and improving metabolic health. As a result, many patients experience fewer infections, better overall health, and enhanced immunity.

How Obesity Weakens the Immune System

Excess fat tissue is not just stored energy; it actively secretes inflammatory molecules called cytokines. These compounds trigger systemic inflammation, which disrupts normal immune function. The body becomes less efficient at fighting infections, healing wounds, and responding to vaccines. Additionally, obesity is linked to an increased risk of autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.

The Role of Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural defense mechanism, but when it becomes chronic, it does more harm than good. Persistent low-grade inflammation puts constant stress on the immune system. This overactivation leads to a state of immune exhaustion, where the body’s defense mechanisms weaken over time. As a result, individuals with obesity are more prone to common illnesses like colds and flu, as well as more serious conditions such as pneumonia.

Weight Loss Surgery and Immune System Restoration

Bariatric surgery isn’t just about weight loss; it’s a tool for improving overall health. By reducing fat mass, the body experiences a decrease in inflammatory markers. This allows the immune system to recover and function more efficiently.

Reduction in Inflammation

One of the most immediate benefits of weight loss surgery is reducing inflammation. Studies have shown that patients who undergo bariatric procedures experience lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a key marker of inflammation. This reduction helps the immune system regain its balance, allowing it to better respond to threats.

Improved Gut Health

The gut plays a crucial role in immune function. Obesity is often associated with an imbalance in gut bacteria, leading to increased inflammation and poor immune response. Weight loss surgery can help restore a healthier gut microbiome, strengthening the body’s natural defenses.

Better Blood Sugar Control

Obesity and diabetes often go hand in hand. High blood sugar levels suppress immune function, making infections more severe. After bariatric surgery, many patients experience improved insulin sensitivity and better blood sugar control. This reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications and enhances immune resilience.

The Long-Term Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery on Immunity

While the immediate effects of bariatric surgery include weight loss and metabolic improvement, the long-term impact on immune health is just as significant. Patients often report fewer illnesses, faster recovery times, and a lower risk of chronic diseases.

Lower Risk of Autoimmune Disorders

Research suggests that weight loss can reduce the likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Since these conditions are closely tied to chronic inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effects of weight loss surgery provide lasting benefits.

Enhanced Response to Vaccines

Vaccines work best when the immune system is functioning optimally. Obesity has been linked to weaker vaccine responses, making individuals more vulnerable to preventable diseases. After weight loss surgery, patients typically show improved vaccine efficacy, helping protect them from infections.

Overall Longevity and Quality of Life

A stronger immune system means a healthier, more resilient body. By addressing obesity through surgical intervention, individuals can enjoy a higher quality of life with fewer health complications. Improved energy levels, better sleep, and reduced risk of chronic illness all contribute to long-term well-being.

Final Thoughts

Obesity significantly weakens the immune system by promoting chronic inflammation and metabolic imbalance. However, weight loss surgery provides a powerful way to restore immune health. By reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and enhancing metabolic function, bariatric surgery helps the body regain its natural defenses. The benefits extend far beyond weight loss, offering patients a healthier and more resilient future.

Continuing Increase in Obesity Rate : Questions Raised on the Efficiency of Weight Loss Supplements

By Kym Stacee | May 22, 2022

The latest industry report from IBIS World shows that US obesity growth rate from 2017 to 2022 stands at 33%, or an annualized increase of 1.8% during the period. Apparently, while there are natural weight loss supplements that lay claims to having the most effective formulation for addressing weight loss problems, many of these claims have been debunked by peer reviews as having insignificant or no impact at all.

In the meantime, Americans continue to consume and accumulate more fat instead of observing caloric restrictions. Rather than burn excess calories via physical exercises to prevent obesity and its corollary diseases, most adult Americans prefer to live a sedentary lifestyle.

Today, obesity accounts as one of the country’s biggest economic health burdens. Current data shows that about $150 billion in medical costs are spent annually in the treatment of obesity related diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, stroke and cancer.

The Correlation between Obesity and Immunology

Obesity is a condition that can adversely affect the body’s immune system. Scientists have always taken keen interests in studying the mechanisms behind the human body’s immune system. It became clear to the medical world that a greater understanding of immunology holds the key to understanding diseases.

One of the diseases that is largely being investigated in the immunology sector today is obesity, being a complex health condition that can have an intense effect on the immune system of obese persons. However, studies show that immune systems and inclination toward obesity are influenced by several factors.

Although obesity is partially preventable by way of healthy eating behavior, physical exercises and other helpful lifestyle changes, it has unfortunately become an epidemic especially in the US, despite the widespread campaigns and proliferation of weight loss supplements.

The World Health Organization (WHO) points to the “western diet” as one of the contributing factors, as it consists of high fat, high cholesterol ingredients, comprising largely of processed food involving the use of large quantities of salt and sugar. Nowadays, the “western diet” is present not only in the US but in nearly all countries across the globe.

Geographic locations, environmental conditions and social elements such as culture, class, roles and institutions are also determinants of a person’s or a group of person’s genetic predisposition to develop obesity. Such complexity has made obesity one of the most difficult public health crises faced by many governments worldwide.

Can Weight Loss Supplements Really Help in Preventing Fat Absorption and in Strengthening Immune Systems?

While weight loss supplements offer help in reducing calories by way of plant-based ingredients, formulated in ways that can influence fat absorption, their efficiency also depends on dietary intakes, engagement in exercises and healthy lifestyle.

Using the Modera Trim weight supplement as an example, most modere trim customer reviews have given positive feedback about improvements on age-related skin conditions like reductions in fine lines and wrinkles. Yet as far as weight loss is concerned, its active ingredient Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), users say it has very minimal or no effect at all as a weight reduction solution.

Actually, Modere’s claim that CLA, a plant-based fat usually derived from safflower oil, has been debunked by many reviews as not effective in reducing human body fat deposits and improving immune systems. Although there have been studies that CLA can contribute in achieving modest weight loss, peer reviews pertaining to the data supporting such findings have been described as inconclusive.

Obese Adults Have Impaired Immunity Systems that Can Affect Defences vs Infectious Diseases

By Kym Stacee | March 12, 2022

Obese adults are among the group of people, whom the CDC and WHO meantioned as at greater risks of hospitalizztion for COVID-19 infection. People with excessive weight have high levels of adiposity, which when explained in layman’s terms means a condition of having too much fatty tissues that tend to lower an obese person’s immunity level.

Studies have shown evidence that excessive adiposity can adversely affect the body’s natural immunity and defences against major diseases, such as heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even cancer

What Exactly does Obesity Denote?

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the U.S defines obesity as a body condition marked by the accumulation of excessive body fat in quantities that are beyond standatd or normal. A person is obese if his body mass index measures between 26 to 30 kg

An obese condition is often characterized as one that manifests chronic inflammation, as well as having disrupted levels of metabolism hormones and circulating proteins. However, important insights into how abnormal metabolism linked to how excessive weight adversely affect immunity, are based on studies using lab rats as models.

Nevertheless, epidemiological data gathered from diagnoses of obese individuals indicate they are at greater risk of contracting hospital-originating infections usually following surgical treatments. Moreover, following the tremd of increased morbidity and mortality among obese insividual with significant altered immunity, the data were taken as indications that obesity is an independent risk factor for patients who were hospitalized due to the 2020 COVID 19 infectious disease.

Such findings highlighted the need to conduct extended research that will give more light in understanding specific aspects of immunity impairment as a result of obesity. Impaired immunity among the obese population have been contributing factors in reducing their immunocompetence or their ability to respond normally to antibiotics and vaccination. Inasmuch as a there are millions worldwide diagnosed as obese, a broader understanding of how obesity affects the immune system is a serious public health matter.

Urgency of Improving Immunity Systems Amidst an Ongoing Health Crisis

In the meantime, it is of utmost importance for people with excessive BMI and suffering from obesity, to have an understanding of what causes their excessive weight gain. The reasons can be diverse, from poor nutrition, to living a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking. Some scientific researches have also discovered that genetics and environmental factors, as well as geographical locations are possible factors that promote obesity.

The complexities that obese people face with impaired immunity makes it urgent to address obesity as a health issue. Thankfully, many have taken interest in reducing their caloric intakes by improving their diets and increasing their engagement in physical exercise. Some have raised awareness about the need to strengthen their immunity and natural defences against infectious dieases in light of the emerging coronavirus variants.

The need to do so is urgent but must be through safe and reliable methods. That is why many are looking into consumer websites that conduct reviews about the legitimacy and efficiency of popular weight loss products. The Geeks Health website for one carries a comprehensive review of PhenQ, one of the popular fat burner supplements available in the market today.

Tag: Obesity