Cholesterol and Weight-loss

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in your body. It is a necessary substance in your body. Cholesterol is used to create cell membranes and hormones. It also allows for better conduction of your nerve cells, and acts as a signaling molecule. However, when there is too much LDL (bad) cholesterol in your system, it can cause blood clots and plaque build-up in your arteries. This can lead to an increased risk of getting a heart attack or a stroke

Weight loss can help lower your bad cholesterol levels. During weight loss, better food consumption and exercise is a key component to lowering cholesterol levels. The multiple mechanisms by which they can be lowered are a decrease in cholesterol production in the liver, an increase in insulin sensitivity, and a decrease in liver fat content.

Due to a lower consumption of foods containing cholesterol, saturated fats, trans fats, and carbohydrates, there is less cholesterol in the body overall. With a proper diet, insulin levels will lower and therefore release the “lock” that it has on fat cells, allowing the fat to be metabolized properly. When the fat surrounding the cells is metabolized, it allows for better access to insulin receptors which increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin. This improvement in the body’s sensitivity to insulin results in a decreased synthesis of cholesterol in the liver. VLDL triglycerides are also decreased during weight loss. VLDLs in the bloodstream are transformed into LDLs. When their amount decreases, this allows for the formation of larger size LDL particles. The larger ones are broken down more easily by the body thus further contributing to the decrease in cholesterol levels. Proper exercise can increase your HDL (good) cholesterol levels which in turn can lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. HDL is the type of cholesterol that helps remove other cholesterols from your body, thus higher levels of HDL would contribute to a healthier you.

Sources:

Ng, T. W. K., Watts, G. F., Barrett, P. H. R., Rye, K.-A., & Chan, D. C. (n.d.). Effect of Weight Loss on LDL and HDL Kinetics in the Metabolic Syndrome. Effect of Weight Loss on LDL and HDL Kinetics in the Metabolic Syndrome. doi: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc07-0768

Wells, D. (n.d.). The Difference Between VLDL and LDL. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/vldl-vs-ldl