Insulin - The Weight Gain Hormone?

Insulin and Carbs - are they the cause of the Obesity epidemic?
When I consider some of my biggest pet peeves with practicing in obesity and weight-management medicine, I would say one of the more prominent ones is the unnecessary controversy around insulin.
In this video, I dive into the science behind Insulin, how it helps our bodies function, and why insulin has been dubbed the fat-storage hormone.
Is this an unfair name? Does an increase in insulin make you fat? Tune in to learn more about the science behind this hormone.
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[@texaskid1996]

I’ve been recently diagnosed with type 2 sadly BUT…… this is the best explanation!! Thank you

[@lianneblanch4694]

Thanks for explaining such a confusing topic in an easy to understand way 💛

[@theofficialdrdan]

My pleasure :)

[@ubaceline]

This is the explanation I was looking for🤗..wel put👍

[@theofficialdrdan]

Thank you :)

[@bradleyg352]

Excellent analogies. I totally understand this new insulin thing that is now my life. Thank you for explaining it this way and for taking your valuable time to help a stranger!

[@lyncharles4856]

Started insulin and changed to a mostly vegetable diet cutting my calories in half. Gained 40lbs in a week, but if i stop i might be sent to the ICU again

[@mrabundance8064]

Perfect, as this is what I was looking for also. I read an article recently about a woman who lost weight by eating only McDonald's. She said she decided to eat this way because they list how many calories are in each meal there, so she could easily know exactly how many calories she was consuming. She basically just ate less calories than she required on a daily basis, and lost weight. It didn't matter that she was eating McDonald's. I think you make an excellent point about how life isn't simple, that we may not be aware of just how many calories we are consuming. For instance one could eat a 500 calorie deficit for 5 days, and then think they're doing well so treat themselves at a weekend social event. They have cake, beers, maybe a takeaway, all of which they have no clue how many calories they contain. If their calorie requirements are 2000 calories per day then that five day deficit of 500 calories per day only leads to 2500 calories. That can easily be wiped out by things such as cake and beers and takeaways. Of course that's a simplistic example, but the fact is, you're right, people simply don't realise just how many calories they're consuming overall. It's about awareness and consistency. Having said that, I do often wonder about people who seem to eat a lot and not gain much weight. Yes perhaps there can be some genetics at play, but I'm more inclined towards perhaps it is that these people also aren't aware of all the times they eat far less, and so they're still at least at maintenance. Anyway thanks for the talk. I'm glad I found this vid as I've watched all that sort of stuff (Carnivore, Keto, Fasting) and I'm no nutritionist but this simple question came to mind: But why would Insulin make us fat if we're in a calorie deficit. That doesn't make sense to me. And then your video confirmed it for me. PS: Whilst I think this is correct concerning weight loss, I think other ways of eating could be beneficial for other things. For example I find that when I eat Carnivore I don't get any flare up of a condition, but when I eat simple sugars or fats with carbs (even unprocessed carbs), or carbs with fats and protein, then I do, even if I am in a calorie deficit. Out of interest I did work out the calorie value of a meal I prepared that contained carbs, fats and protein (I did this accurately as it only contained three ingredients and I measured it all out). Anyway it turned out to be 1200 calories. Now the cells should easily allow in all that stuff right, right? as it's surely well below my daily calorie needs. However it caused me issues, like my body couldn't handle it and I got a flare up of a condition that I especially get when I eat too many simple sugars in one go. Essentailly what I'm saying is that although that meal was below my daily calorie requirements, it was too many calories for me at that moment. I'm starting to wonder if this is a cultural and/or convenience thing. What I mean is often there isn't an opportunity to eat too many times per day if one does a job where you can only eat on assigned lunch breaks. Plus it's a social thing to be hungry so that you can spend time with family eating a prepared meal, ie: I was brought up being told no 'treats' 3 hours before evening meal, even if I was craving something. I once worked with a woman who was very slender. She often snacked on sugary sweets. Our job was fairly manual and we were on our feet a lot of the day. She was easily able to eat a sugary sweet on the go, but I couldn't eat my prepared chicken salad whilst doing my job. And so I ignored my hunger and waited to eat all of it in 15 mins during my break. My ideal might have been to eat half of it when I first got hungry, and then the other half sometime later. But instead I ate it all in one go and was tired afterwards. So yes although one may require 2000-2500 or whatever calories a day to maintain, I don't think it's always (maybe not even most of the time) ideal to to consume all that even in 3 servings of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Perhaps the system is being overloaded in some way as you're giving the body more than it's asking for at any particular time. Heck who even says 24 hrs is even the golden timeframe to live by. Maybe that's what those slender people who eat three desserts at a social gathering inherenty understand. They know it balances out over time and they don't freak out if they're not eating the exact amount of calories each day. I've heard it takes quite a bit of time for the metabolism to slow down, and it's not like it happens in days like some people say. I know plenty of slender people who literally only eat on the go and never home prepare food. They eat mainly processed ready to eat packet foods from convenience store's, cafe's, McDonald's, etc, etc. I think the reason they're slim is because they're just eating the amount they want to at any particular time. Yes it is processed food, but in a way it is almost closer to how we would have naturally eaten. What I mean is, years back there'd be fruit growing on a tree, Berries on a bush, food all around us (and no I don't believe there was always a period of scaricty way back as not everyone lived in the far north). And so we'd see those Berries on the bush or fruits on the tree and not think "oh I better eat them all right now", we'd instead just pick as many as we felt like right now. I now work for myself and can eat as often as I want. And so, I will, as much or as little as I want in any moment in time. I think that is actually a way of becoming more aware and to find your own balance. Thanks.

[@prideofalion]

You kind of go after Fung here and then your argument is the exact argument he has debunked many times. Yes calorie balance determines the adaptation. However there are other factors in play when it comes to the rate of adaptation. If it were only calorie balance we would all gain and lose weight at the same rate. And we know that's not at all true. I used to be in the "cico" camp too. But Fung brings up some very interesting points about your bodies regulation of the "calories out" part of the equation. It's worth listening to and not just being blinded by the "it's all about the calories" mindset.

[@garylriedl]

Stumbled across this video. I like your pragmatic way of viewing food. I weight train and run, and eat well (paleo-ish, because I eat nutritious bread too). Calories in vs calories out is simple yet elegant. Ditto on almost everything you said. I want to add that, even though weight is important, so is how the body operates. A donut may have carbs, but they just don't compare to broccoli. When we were young kids, we could eat anything and do well for ourselves; but after 50, we don't process food efficiently. So there should be an Asterix after the "calories in/out" comment - meaning, to be lean AND feel good, steer toward the best type of protein, carbs, and fats.

[@daviddickinson2676]

Youve done a satisfactory job of explaining weight loss n weight gain, even the physiology of insulin. . .when insulin levels are normal. When were hyperinsulinemic (and almost every westerner is hyperinsulinemic), all bets are off and the physiology that you descibe is replaced w the PATHophysiology of hyperinsulinemia where this little hormone that stores levtover calories now becomes a hoarder. Storing everything, even using the glucose of gluconeogenesis to store more calories.

[@theofficialdrdan]

Lol. There is no such thing as hyperinsulinemia pathology.

[@cristinapadilla6261]

I dont have diabetes but i always want to gain weight all my life and i.was thinking to.take insoline just to gaining weight can the help me

[@BreLana]

I wouldnt even say it's all about eating an "Excess Amount" of calories... It can also be that the calories you are consuming, come from unhealthy foods! The amount of carbs people consume these days is NOT AT ALL the amount we'd have gotten from the hunter/gather days we are biologically programed for. And same is true for the types of foods we eat now. They didnt have boxed/canned/processed/bagged - quick crap - that was all mass produced & manufactured to be highly addictive, back then - like we now have today! And we never tap into our fat storage these days, like our ancestors who had to hunt or gather, if we all have the crap food most people eat, readily available to us on a daily basis! (Grocery Stores/Restaurants year round, *Vs* No food stores and relying on the seasons & life cycles) ...Therefore, cutting out processed junk, fast food, and Sugary/Starchy *CARBS* is effective & helpful & life changing! While what U say makes sense & is true to an extent... it has to also take into account the differences in our society, today - that were not a "normal" thing for humans, hundreds/thousands of years ago! They lived a very different life, compared to the way life is now. So while that is how insulin works, to feed the cells... we now have a obesity & diabetes crisis on our hands. And tons of people who are insulin resistant due to the carb loaded foods made available to everyone. Keto is not a NO CARBS EVER "diet" ... It's a *"Stop eating processed junk food, and avoid Sugar/Starch based Carbs" lifestyle change* ... that still allows for Fiber (good carb) and just keeping your *carb intake per day* under a certain amount! Our ancestors back in the "hunter gatherer days" did not eat pastas, pizza, chips, sodas, or tons of sugar and corn in EVERYTHING that is manufactured. They ate meats and whatever plant life was edible in their area. Greens, berries, seeds, nuts! (GASP! KETO!) Much of their food, long ago, is considered paleo & keto friendly today. And hunting/gathering would consist more of, "protein, healthy fats, & low amounts of carbs that were mostly FIBER" And yes, Sometimes fruit depending where they were! Some places even had potatoes or corn native to their land... but they didnt process it into a bunch of unhealthy food products! And they didnt sit on their booties in an office all day! They were not glued to TV, Computers, or Phones all day! They didnt have cars to get them places. They burned it off! They were active! So we need to keep that in mind, regardless of how the body functions & how insulin works. Because in today's society - the way things are NOW food & lifestyle wise - insulin is a problem contributing to our obesity/diabetes/auto-immune diseases/insulin resistance! It doesnt mean insulin is evil. It just means we need to eat better & help control it more! It's not cool to bash the very things, like keto if done clean & right, that are saving people's lives! Like mine! I had all kinds of issues, that finally got better & went away, by cutting out crappy carb-loaded junk! Lost weight at a healthy sustainable pace, got my blood sugars & insulin resistance back under control so I didnt have to be put on diabetic medicine, and my Psoriasis (an auto-immune disease that impacts the skin) cleared up! And eating this way was recommended to me, BY MY DOCTOR!

[@theofficialdrdan]

It is actually. When you consume more then you burn you gain weight that is foundational. Yes there are multiple factors that can affect that calorie deficit but CICO is still the basis for fat loss and gain. Keto is a fad and quick fix like anything else. Glad it works for you but most it doesn't. You've also been on it for 7 months you are literally in the honey moon phase so it all seems amazing. Come back in 5 years and we can chat.

[@theofficialdrdan]

Also 95% of doctors have no clue about weight management or obesity and recommend the latest fad or method that worked for them. They have maybe 2 hours of training in nutrition so because your doctor recommended doesn't hold much weight when I've been doing this for 10+ years. Again glad it is working for you but you have a long way to go.