"We have found that a modest weight loss of about 6 kg is enough to bring the pro-inflammatory nature of circulating immune cells back to that found in lean people."

"These inflammatory cells are involved in promoting coronary artery disease and other illnesses associated with obesity."

"This is the first time it has been shown that modest weight reduction reverses some of the very adverse inflammatory changes we see in obese people with diabetes."

"We also showed that the activation status of immune cells found in fat predicted how much weight people would lose following a calorie restricted diet and bariatric surgery. Those with more activated immune cells lost less weight."

"It's the first time this has been described and is important because it helps us understand why some people lose weight more easily than others, and that inflammation is involved in regulating the response to bariatric surgery."

The Garvan study reinforces a message we hear regularly - to optimise your health, keep your weight and waist in the healthy range.

Source: Research Australia