In this Memo arc, I’m going to lay the foundation to support my opinion that obesity is a man-made disease. I’m adding this idea to that opinion: reducing body weight and maintaining the weight loss can occur with man-made solutions. Actually, it’s utilizing one mechanism we often overlook that the body uses all the time: adaptation.

Let’s begin with something serious that involves a broken bone or recovery from a joint replacement, which is essentially the same thing. After the bones are aligned, the first phase of the recovery is reducing the inflammation and pain to restore joint mobility. That involves multiple systems of the body working together; hormones are certainly involved as well as the muscular, skeletal, cardiovascular, and other systems as well.

The repair process swings into action to heal the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues involved. Bones take time to heal because all bones start as cartilage, which is then calcified; that takes six weeks or longer. At the same time, the muscular system has to repair muscles that might have been damaged in the process or are being asked to do other tasks than before.

I could continue, but my point is that the repair process is an adaptation process and takes time, often months and maybe even longer to restore full function. Can we use this process of adaptation in a positive way? I’ll cover that on Saturday.

One thing you can do as we approach the first holiday of the summer is to plan your menu and your exercise sessions. Improving your healthspan is easier if you make a plan for the many exceptions to your everyday routine in advance.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet