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The gastric balloon therapy is an effective method for weight loss, but to maintain long-term health and achieve your desired weight, muscle building is a crucial component. You might have heard of myokines before. These messengers, released by your muscles during and after exercise, play a key role in your health and well-being. Discover more about the effects of myokines.
What are myokines?
Myokines are proteins produced and released by muscles during physical activity. They act as messengers in the body and have a wide range of positive effects. Myokines are not only important for muscle building and fat burning but also support various other health functions.
Scientifically, myokines are a relatively new discovery. These muscle messengers have been known since 2007. There are now believed to be around 600 different myokines, each with various effects on the body. However, myokines themselves are not entirely new. Known by other names like interleukin-6, these substances have long been recognized in the immune system. What’s new is the understanding that they are also produced in the muscles.
The effects of myokines
Myokines are like a small, built-in pharmacy that we just need to activate. Let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of muscle messengers that are currently known:
Muscle building and fat burning
One of the most obvious benefits of myokines is their ability to promote muscle growth and stimulate fat burning. This means that regular exercise not only helps you lose weight but also improves muscle tone and increases your basal metabolic rate.
Cardiovascular system
Myokines also play an important role in cardiovascular health. They support blood vessel function, reduce inflammation, and help lower blood pressure. Therefore, regular exercise and the resulting increase in myokines can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, more physical activity also has a protective effect against metabolic syndrome. Learn more about metabolic syndrome metabolic syndrome here.
Immune system support
A strong immune system is crucial for your health. Myokines have an immunomodulatory effect, meaning they can strengthen the immune system and help fight inflammation. The mechanism behind this: the messengers can bind to white blood cells, which are part of the immune system, and activate them, ultimately boosting your defenses.
Mood and mental well-being
Exercise and physical activity are known to lift your mood and reduce stress. This is partly due to the release of myokines, which have positive effects on the brain as they promote the production of neurotransmitters responsible for good mood and mental well-being.
Myokines vs. adipokines: the body’s opponents
Not only muscles but also fat tissue acts as an endocrine organ. In other words, fat tissue is not just an energy store but also produces messengers that affect the entire body and the development of diseases.
In contrast to myokines, the effects of adipokines are generally harmful to our health. They influence lipid and glucose metabolism, hunger and satiety, and inflammation processes in the body. Adipokines are thought to contribute to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, arteriosclerosis, and high blood pressure.
This is where myokines come into play, as they can be seen as opponents of adipokines. Their effects are exactly opposite. For instance, myokines are anti-inflammatory, while adipokines promote inflammation.
More muscles, more myokines: balancing out fat tissue
Due to their opposite effects, myokines can somewhat counteract the harmful effects of adipokines. This means that with more muscle mass, you can also have a bit more fat tissue and thus reduce the risk of certain diseases. The ratio between muscle and fat mass is therefore crucial for your health and longevity.
You might be familiar with this effect in some people who appear slim but still suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and other conditions. There are often individuals who look thin on the outside but have high fat mass and very little muscle on the inside. These people are referred to as TOFI (Thin Outside Fat Inside) and may have a higher risk of lifestyle diseases compared to slightly overweight individuals who are very physically active.
How to stimulate myokine production
Any form of movement and muscle training promotes the production of myokines. Choose a sport you enjoy and can regularly incorporate into your daily routine.
If you want to get the most out of your muscles, intensive strength training is probably the best choice. Compared to endurance sports or moderate strength training, more myokines are released. An example is high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
Conclusion: muscle building as a key to holistic fitness and health
Building muscle is not just for weight loss but supports your overall health. Through the production of myokines, you benefit from numerous positive effects that go beyond weight reduction: you reduce the risk posed by fat tissue. In short, this means a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, improved glucose metabolism due to better insulin sensitivity, a strong immune system, and enhanced well-being.
Sources
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Hoene, M., & Weigert, C. (2008). The role of interleukin-6 in insulin resistance, body fat distribution and energy balance. Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 9(1), 20–29.
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The yo-yo effect, cravings, stress - losing weight can be quite frustrating. But there is a way out for everyone. Together we will find the right solution for you. As a nutritionist at My Weight®, I support my patients individually and personally on their way to their desired weight. Losing weight can and should be fun...and we work on this together! 
Maren - Weight Buddy® and nutritionist at My Weight®
