Hormonal
In nondiabetic Pima Indians, higher insulin resistance (lower glucose disposal) is associated with a significantly lower rate of weight gain over time compared to insulin-sensitive individuals.
For individuals with high insulin resistance, standard weight loss advice might need to account for metabolic adaptations. This study suggests that insulin resistance might naturally slow down weight gain in some populations, acting as a protective feedback mechanism against extreme obesity, rather than solely driving it. This does not mean insulin resistance is healthy, but it complicates the simple 'high insulin = fat gain' narrative.
Insulin-resistant subjects gained less weight than insulin-sensitive subjects (3.1 vs. 7.6 kg, P < 0.0001).
Why this rating
Longitudinal study with rigorous metabolic clamping and large sample size for the population, but limited generalizability to non-Pima populations.
Source
Insulin resistance associated with lower rates of weight gain in Pima Indians.
Boyd Swinburn et al. · Journal of Clinical Investigation · 1991
DOI 10.1172/jci115274
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