The carbohydrate-insulin model: a physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic
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Documents
- Ludwig et al_American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_2021_Vol 114(6)_1873-1885
Final published version, 403 KB, PDF document
According to a commonly held view, the obesity pandemic is caused by overconsumption of modern, highly palatable, energy-dense processed foods, exacerbated by a sedentary lifestyle. However, obesity rates remain at historic highs, despite a persistent focus on eating less and moving more, as guided by the energy balance model (EBM). This public health failure may arise from a fundamental limitation of the EBM itself. Conceptualizing obesity as a disorder of energy balance restates a principle of physics without considering the biological mechanisms that promote weight gain. An alternative paradigm, the carbohydrate-insulin model (CIM), proposes a reversal of causal direction. According to the CIM, increasing fat deposition in the body-resulting from the hormonal responses to a high-glycemic-load diet-drives positive energy balance. The CIM provides a conceptual framework with testable hypotheses for how various modifiable factors influence energy balance and fat storage. Rigorous research is needed to compare the validity of these 2 models, which have substantially different implications for obesity management, and to generate new models that best encompass the evidence.
Original language | English |
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Journal | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 114 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 1873-1885 |
Number of pages | 13 |
ISSN | 0002-9165 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.
- Faculty of Science - Obesity, Weight loss, Dietary carbohydrate, Energy balance, Macronutrients, Endocrinology, Insulin, Glucagon, Incretins, Scholarly discourse
Research areas
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