Does the immune system have effects on weight?

Now that I've had my fourth and final baby, yes final, I've had my tubes tied, I am digging deeper to find a permanent solution to my weight loss. I've had some funny symptoms over the last decade that have surrounded my weight gain and enough is enough. I went to my doctor, Dr. P and gave her my book of symptoms for her to look over. She sent me to the ENT for a sleep study. So now I'm a patient of Dr. K. He sends me for a sleep study, skin allergy testing and a CT scan of my sinuses. After my skin testing the LPN shares with me my results. So here is a list of my allergens:

Grasses
Bermuda grass
blue grass

Weeds
lamb's quater

Trees
oak trees
cottonwood trees

Dusts
house dust
dermato farinae

Molds
penicillium
candida
alternaria
helminthosporium
fusarium

TCE

As allergens attack the immune system I decided to do some research on how the immune system and body weight are connected if at all. You have to know if I discover something about my body I must research the affects on my weight. While researching I found this article that I believe sums up all the information very well.

Malfunctioning Immunity Causes Weight Gain

Here are a few key points of the article in case you do not what to read the whole thing.

"Leptin is the key hormone in your body that enables your survival, as it is the hormone that permits your body to spend energy. Since energy is needed for everything your body does, its fundamental importance cannot be overstated.

For example, leptin signaling to your subconscious brain following a meal gives you a full signal and sends the subconscious message that you have been to the gas station. You now have plenty of fuel in your tank, and it is time to kick your energetic systems into gear. That is an example of a central regulatory system in your body that sets your overall energy spending policy."

"Metabolic flu is the inappropriate and chronic activation of your immune system6 cells, malfunctioning in a way that promotes weight gain and makes weight loss difficult.  I will explain this first in the context of leptin resistance and then explain step-by-step how someone goes from being normal weight to being overweight, and finally what you need to do to solve the problem.

Leptin resistance means that your white adipose tissue is making too much leptin and for a variety of reasons the leptin signal is not easily getting into your brain or registering in it. This is what I call a false state of perceived starvation.  Your body thinks it is starving and so must keep eating, even though you are far from starving. In other words, the problem of leptin resistance means you don’t have enough leptin in your brain in relation to eating a normal amount of food. On the other hand, you have too much leptin in your blood stream. Therein lies the problem."

"Once this combination of problems starts, the metabolic flu begins to ramp up and lock itself into place. The inflammation within white adipose tissue activates monocytes that go out into your circulation and recruit more macrophages to come to your white adipose tissue. Interestingly, this appears to be a self-defense mechanism against being poisoned by too much food. The macrophages are actually trying to liberate the fat from the fat cells using a highly inflammatory backup strategy. Unfortunately, their last ditch effort is overwhelmed by even more calories coming in that must be stored as fat. We now have excessive inflammatory macrophage activity locked into place, worsening in direct proportion to the expansion of your waistline. The inflammation in your white adipose tissue enters your general circulation and induces wear and tear, causing you to feel tired.  One of your genetic responses to tiredness is eating to get energy – and around we go in a vicious circle of progressively worsening health, i.e., metabolic flu."

"Immune cells work best when they go from a resting to an active state when needed. Metabolic flu chronically activates immune cells; they get tired and resistant to leptin signaling. It is like a repetitive strain injury to immune cells.  Immunity in general starts to malfunction."

"The bottom line is that developing the metabolic flu is what causes you to gain weight in the first place and is clearly locked into place in people who struggle to lose weight. Furthermore, the longer the problem exists and worsens, the more likely it is that other more serious metabolic problems and immune system problems will develop."

So now as a part of my weight loss regiment I am going to get my allergies under control by eliminating as many allergens and taking an OTC to help with symptoms. I will start again with a very well balanced diet by strictly following a veggie based food pyramid while removing foods that contain my allergens. I will also take great care in preparing foods to ensure the best to my ability that certain allergens are not on my foods, like washing root veggies very well. 

xoxox,
Shan