We already know that overweight and obesity are increasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It could also be that a BMI higher than normal (greater than 25) puts the persons concerned at risk of developing osteoporosis. American researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston have discovered that overweight or obese people have fat cells hidden inside their bones. Their concentration has the effect of weakening the bones and making them vulnerable to fractures.
While fat usually settles in the thighs, hips, belly, we learn in this study published in the journal Radiology fat can lodge in unexpected places such as the liver, muscles and bone marrow. This was detected by scanners on the bodies of 106 obese and overweight volunteers, but all in good health.
Obesity, an additional risk factor
In these overweight people, abnormally high fat cells were found in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is where the cells responsible for bone formation, the osteoblasts, live. The takeover of fat cells in the bone marrow would therefore be the cause of the weakening of the bones.
Thin people are considered more at risk of osteoporosis because the lack of muscle tissue protects bone structures less well. But this study shows that it is not so simple since being overweight, far from protecting, also predisposes to osteoporosis. “Obesity was thought to protect against bone loss. We found out that’s not the case,” says Dr Miriam Bredella who led the study.
