A Comprehensive Look at Linoleic Acid (Seed Oils) and Obesity
Obesity rarely has a single cause, but there are a few primary drivers. Seed oils is one of them.
Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, increases endocannabinoid levels (AEA and 2-AG), which activates the CB1 receptor, promoting adipogenesis, increased food intake, and metabolic disorders linked to obesity.
Reducing dietary linoleic acid may help prevent obesity by decreasing endocannabinoid synthesis and CB1 receptor activation, which promote weight gain and metabolic dysregulation.
The role of linoleic acid in obesity highlights the importance of dietary fatty acid composition in influencing energy balance and metabolic health, suggesting benefits from lowering omega-6 fatty acid intake.
Involvement of Linoleic Acid in Obesity
When trying to decipher modern day obesity we need to appreciate that trials repeatedly show when we overfeed humans, through homeostasis their bodies return to baseline fat levels.
Obesity is driven by an external factor that is both increasing appetite beyond observable energy requirements and lowering a human’s metabolic rate.
The observable result, not cause, is an energy imbalance when measured through “calories in; calories out”.
Linoleic acid has emerged as a significant factor in the development of obesity, particularly through its influence on the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in energy homeostasis, appetite regulation, and lipid metabolism, all of which are pertinent to the pathophysiology of obesity.
In recent years, the dietary shift towards increased consumption of linoleic acid, primarily through seed oils, has coincided with rising obesity rates globally. Understanding the biochemical and physiological mechanisms by which linoleic acid contributes to obesity is vital for developing dietary strategies and interventions to mitigate this public health issue.
Endocannabinoid System
The relationship between linoleic acid and obesity is mediated, in part, by the endocannabinoid system, which includes receptors such as CB1 and CB2, endogenous ligands like anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation.
Linoleic acid serves as a precursor for AEA and 2-AG, and its increased dietary intake has been shown to directly elevate levels of these endocannabinoids. This elevation can lead to enhanced CB1 receptor activation, which promotes adipogenesis, increasing food intake, and reducing energy expenditure, thereby starting a recurring feedback loop which drives obesity.
Activation of the endocannabinoid system, a key pathway in alcohol and drug addiction that by itself induces drug-seeking responses by increasing dopamine levels and interacting with the corticostriatal part of the reward system.
This system activation results in significant weight gain even under low-fat diet conditions or in the presence of a diet that would not typically promote weight gain.
These findings are corroborated by human studies that indicate a similar trend, where elevated dietary linoleic acid correlates with increased adiposity and higher risk of metabolic disorders.
CB1 Activation In The Liver
Moreover, the interaction between linoleic acid-derived endocannabinoids and the CB1 receptor in the liver further exacerbates metabolic dysregulation.
Activation of hepatic CB1 receptors by endocannabinoids has been shown to induce steatosis, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, all of which are hallmarks of metabolic syndrome associated with obesity.
There is compelling evidence that the hepatic CB1 receptor is essential for the development of diet-induced steatosis and insulin resistance, highlighting the role of linoleic acid in promoting these adverse metabolic outcomes through endocannabinoid signaling.
Food intake
Additionally, the endocannabinoid system’s role in modulating food intake and energy balance is influenced by the types of fatty acids consumed in the diet with linoleic acid particularly enhancing endocannabinoid levels that drive hyperphagia (rabid hunger), further linking this fatty acid to obesity.
This mechanism underscores the complex interplay between dietary components and the endocannabinoid system in regulating body weight and composition.
Generational Degradation
The obesity problem of today doesn’t look like the obesity problem of the 2000’s and for that matter of the 1980’s. Mice fed a diet high in linoleic acid and then randomly mated over four generations whilst maintaining the diet showed ever increasing fat mass due to combined hyperplasia and hypertrophy with no change in food intake across each generation.
So we observe, high linoleic acid diets compound the obesity problem over generations, an adaptation not seen in any competing theories of obesity.
The broader implications of these findings suggest that reducing dietary linoleic acid intake is a viable strategy for preventing and managing obesity.
By lowering the precursor availability for endocannabinoid synthesis, it may be possible to attenuate the overactivation of CB1 receptors and their downstream effects on metabolism and energy balance.
This approach aligns with emerging nutritional recommendations that advocate for a reduction in omega-6 fatty acid consumption, particularly in the context of an increasingly obesogenic environment.
In conclusion, linoleic acid’s role in obesity is multifaceted, involving its conversion into bioactive endocannabinoids that modulate key physiological processes linked to energy balance and metabolism.
The evidence from both animal models and human studies underscores the importance of dietary fatty acid composition in influencing endocannabinoid system activity and, consequently, obesity risk.
Why Eating Linoleic Acid (Seed Oils) Is The Primary Driver in Obesity [Video]
But I Never Ate Seed Oils, Why Am I Obese?
The reality is, even if you haven’t directly poured canola oil into a glass and drank it, you’ve probably consumed seed oils without realizing it. Most foods that come in a box or package from the grocery store—things like chips, cookies, or frozen meals—contain seed oils.
For the last 30 years, these oils, particularly ones high in linoleic acid (the main fat found in seed oils), have become a huge part of the modern diet, way beyond what our bodies are used to from an evolutionary standpoint.
There’s another piece that sneaks under the radar: the way we raise animals today, especially animals like chickens, pigs, and turkeys. The food we feed them is loaded with these fats, and when you eat things like pork, chicken or turkey, you’re getting a big dose of linoleic acid.
Some experts even compare modern pork fat (lard) to seed oils like soybean oil because it’s so saturated with similar types of fats. So, even if you think you’ve avoided seed oils, odds are they’ve been in your diet indirectly.
But here’s where things get a little more complex—and it’s important to recognize that not everything comes down to just seed oils. Linoleic acid is likely one of the key contributors to obesity in the U.S. today, but it’s not the only factor. Even if you’ve avoided seed oils most of your life, other things could still be influencing your weight.
For some people, it could be emotional trauma, chronic stress, or environmental toxins like heavy metals or mold exposure. Genetics, and even epigenetics (how your genes are influenced by your environment), also play a role. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, and it’s important to approach this with empathy and an open mind.
At Uncivilized, we’ll keep digging into these topics—challenging conventional wisdom and exploring all the hidden factors that can affect health. Whether it’s seed oils, emotional health, or environmental triggers, we’re here to help you understand the full picture.
If you’re tired of being told “you’re not doing it hard enough” and want a calmer, easier, science backed approach > check out patchwork
We’re helping people across America decipher their own situation with scientific testing, experimentation and extremely easy to follow plans.
Further research of Linoleic Acid in Obesity
Explore further studies on the role of linoleic acid and its metabolites on Obesity:
Obesity & Linoleic Acid on (1417 studies – Pubmed)
Obesity & Lipid Peroxidation (1521 studies – Pubmed)
Obesity & Omega 6 (1240 studies – Pubmed)
Obesity & Oxidative Stress (11823 studies – Pubmed)
Sources
Dietary linoleic acid elevates the endocannabinoids 2-AG and anandamide and promotes weight gain in mice fed a low-fat diet.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3842-y
Fatty Acid Modulation of the Endocannabinoid System and the Effect on Food Intake and Metabolism.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/361895
Role of Cannabinoids in Obesity.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19092690
Hepatic CB1 receptor is required for development of diet-induced steatosis, dyslipidemia, and insulin and leptin resistance in mice.
https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI34827
A Western-like fat diet is sufficient to induce a gradual enhancement in fat mass over generations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20410018/
Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in reward processing and addiction: from mechanisms to interventions
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33162767/
Physiological protection against weight gain: evidence from overfeeding studies and future directions
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2022.0229