Overeating not the main cause of obesity—study

When we hear the word obesity, we would easily link it to the idea of overeating, which involves enjoying food in unusually large amounts. New research, however, interestingly suggests otherwise: obesity may not be so much a result of too much eating, but rather the type of food that is eaten.

According to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, modern dietary patterns distinguished by excessive consumption of foods with a high glycemic load like “processed, rapidly digestible carbohydrates” primarily give rise to the current epidemic. “These foods cause hormonal responses that fundamentally change our metabolism, driving fat storage, weight gain, and obesity,” it stated.

The study put forward a carbohydrate-insulin model that claims to explain obesity and weight gain better. “When we eat highly processed carbohydrates, the body increases insulin secretion and suppresses glucagon secretion. This, in turn, signals fat cells to store more calories, leaving fewer calories available to fuel muscles and other metabolically active tissues,” as per a report by ANI. “The brain perceives that the body isn’t getting enough energy, which, in turn, leads to feelings of hunger.” 

“In addition, metabolism may slow down in the body’s attempt to conserve fuel. Thus, we tend to remain hungry, even as we continue to gain excess fat,” it continued.