Inflammation is a form of ongoing biochemical damage; more inflammation means a shorter, less healthy life as the damage builds up and age-related conditions set in. Via Life Extension Foundation News, a look at how fat causes inflammation: "Greenberg and his colleagues found that as fat cells reach their maximum size, they eventually break down and die. ... more than 90 percent of the macrophages in adipose tissue of obese mice and humans are located around dead fat cells. ... these immune cells now appear to be rushing to fat cells after their death to mop them up. When this happens, the macrophages may emit potentially dangerous amounts of inflammatory chemicals. ... In a case of molecular rescue gone awry, the findings may explain how enlarged fat cells, as found in obesity, promote obesity-related complications such as arthritis, insulin resistance, diabetes, or heart disease."

Link: http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=3609