Autoimmune diseases caused by obesity, study suggests

Posted on November 12, 2014 by DiabetesDigest.com Staff in News

Obesity is a major factor in the development of autoimmune disease, new research suggests.
The study, conducted at Tel Aviv University and published in Autoimmunity Reviews, discovered that obesity causes the body’s protective self-tolerance to break down, encouraging autoimmune disease.
Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld, the Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medicine, said: “We’ve been aware of a long list of causes of autoimmune disorders – infections, smoking, pesticides, lack of vitamins, and so forth. But in last five years, a new factor has emerged that cannot be ignored: obesity.
“According to the World Health Organization, approximately 35% of the global community is overweight or obese, and more than ten autoimmune diseases are known to be associated with increased weight.”
Obesity is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes, although there is debate as to whether it is an autoimmune disease. Some studies have suggested that type 2 diabetes, like type 1, is an autoimmune disease, but with different target cells. The way that the disease is classified has a major impact on treatment methods.
The Tel Aviv study is further evidence of the negative health effects of obesity. In addition to this new research, obesity can cause type 2 …read more

Source:: News from Diabetes.co.uk

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