Research

Hormonal

Western diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars cause hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, which drive obesity and civilization diseases through increased fat storage, prevented lipolysis, and metabolic distortion, independent of caloric surplus alone.

To manage weight and metabolic health, prioritize reducing refined carbohydrates and sugars found in Western diets. These foods spike insulin, which signals your body to store fat and blocks fat burning. Switching to a diet lower in these high-insulinemic foods may help regulate insulin levels and support weight management.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
WDs cause a high postprandial insulin production and can produce insulin hypersecretion and hyperinsulinemia, which promote fat storage, prevent lipolysis and cause increased appetite, hyperphagia and weight gain.
W Köpp · Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity · 2019

Why this rating

The paper is a perspective/review citing observational and animal studies, lacking large-scale human RCTs for the specific causal chain of hyperinsulinemia preceding obesity in humans.

Source

<p>How Western Diet And Lifestyle Drive The Pandemic Of Obesity And Civilization Diseases</p>

W Köpp · Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity · 2019

DOI 10.2147/dmso.s216791

narrative_reviewCited 653×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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