by

Joseph

Active sympathetic nervous system activity may play a role in weight loss, a new study suggests. According to research to be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, the sympathetic nervous system has a significant role in caloric expenditure and therefore may influence weight loss outcome.

Australian scientists investigated how dietary intervention is related to baseline sympathetic nervous system activity. To accomplish their objective, researchers enrolled 42 overweight and obese adults (median age 57 years) who were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in a 12 week-long weight loss program and wherein volunteers' muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured.

Remarkable Discovery

Researchers discovered that obese participants with poor MSNA were less responsive to dietary intervention than participants with active sympathetic nervous system activity. Moreover, MSNA spiked in successful weight loss participants but was much lower in weight loss resistant volunteers. 

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is responsible for homeostasis i.e. maintaining a steady state. If you have a relatively active "resting" metabolism, you'll burn off more calories than someone who's metabolism is much slower at homeostasis. For simplicity, imagine an idle race car burning more fuel than an idle sedan.

This discovery is remarkable because of its implications for weight loss intervention. Metabolic syndrome is a disorder characterized by a myriad of symptoms including obesity, adult-onset diabetes mellitus, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. If scientists can figure out how to boost SNS activity in overweight and obese persons with metabolic syndrome, it could stimulate their bodies to burn more calories.

You don't have to sit around waiting for pharmaceutical companies to develop sympathetic nervous system stimulator pills, though. The tried and true method which combines calorie restriction (through healthy eating habits) and regular exercise will create a caloric deficit that promotes weight loss. When that happens your body will dip into its fat reserves to provide fuel to keep your body functioning throughout the day. If you keep this up over the long term, you will inevitably lose weight (read my article "Diet Or Exercise? Which Is More Effective In Treating Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome?" for more information about this topic).

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Article Source

Straznicky, N., Eikelis, N., Nestel, P., Dixon, J., Dawood, T., Grima, M., Sari, C., Schlaich, M., Esler, M., Tilbrook, A., Lambert, G., & Lambert, E. (2011). Baseline Sympathetic Nervous System Activity Predicts Dietary Weight Loss in Obese Metabolic Syndrome Subjects Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-2320

"Successful Weight Loss Might Be Triggered By Sympathetic Nerves" copyright 2011 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy_(SM). All Rights Reserved.

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