A perspective paper has just been published on the subject of the carbohydrate insulin model (CIM) of obesity.
The traditional model of obesity is the energy balance model – obesity is the result of too much energy in and not enough energy expended.
The CIM, in contrast, presents the cause of obesity as driven by hormonal responses to a high-carbohydrate diet.
The paper summarised eight “predictions and testable hypotheses arising from the CIM." Together they captured the stages of physical response to carbohydrate intake – insulin, insulin resistance, fat storage and food cravings.
The authors then presented common criticisms of the CIM and offered counters to these.
The paper provided an excellent summary of the CIM and our thinking about obesity generally.
The closing passages were very constructive – suggesting that more discussion about causes of obesity is needed and that the research arena should embrace different approaches, as ‘eat less do more’ just isn't working.
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