Have you ever heard that insulin makes you fat or, conversely, that insulin helps you lose weight ? These claims are common, but how true are they? Today we're going to unravel the mysteries of insulin and its real impact on our weight . From debunking myths to exploring how insulin really affects our bodies, we're offering you a new perspective on insulin and its relationship to body weight.
The Interaction Between Insulin and Weight Loss
Before you can understand how insulin affects weight gain or loss, you need to know what insulin is and how it works.
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas . Its main function is to regulate blood sugar levels. When we eat, especially foods rich in carbohydrates, our body breaks down this food into glucose (sugar), which is one of the main sources of energy for our body. This glucose enters the bloodstream and causes blood sugar levels to rise. In response, the pancreas secretes insulin.
Insulin acts like a key that allows glucose to enter the body's cells where it is used for energy. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells. It builds up in the blood, which can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes .
How Insulin Affects Weight
Insulin not only facilitates the entry of glucose into cells, but also affects how the body stores energy for later use. When there is an excess of glucose in the body, insulin helps to store it in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles, and promotes the conversion of glucose into fat to store it for later use. This process is essential for the body's energy management, but an imbalance can lead to excess fat storage and, therefore, weight gain.
On the other hand, when insulin levels are low, such as between meals or during a fasting period, the body switches to a different mode. As soon as it detects low insulin levels, it draws on its energy reserves. The liver converts stored glycogen back into glucose and releases it into the blood to maintain energy levels. In addition, the body begins to break down stored fat to use as energy , a process known as lipolysis. This means that in situations where insulin levels are low, such as during low-carb diets or intermittent fasting, the body can burn fat reserves, making weight loss easier.
This dual role of insulin in regulating blood sugar and facilitating energy storage is essential for maintaining the body's energy balance and thus also affects body weight. So an imbalance in insulin production or utilization can affect our weight both up and down.
The Rumors About Insulin and Weight Loss
However, there are many myths and misconceptions about insulin and its relationship to weight . So before we can understand how insulin actually affects body weight, it's important to dispel these myths.
Rumor No. 1: Insulin makes you fat
One of the most common myths is that insulin makes you fat and causes weight gain. While it is true that insulin promotes the storage of energy in the form of fat, its effect on body weight is much more complex.
Insulin-induced weight gain usually occurs when there is a calorie surplus . In a neutral or negative energy balance, ie when the same or less energy is consumed than used, insulin alone does not lead to significant weight gain.
Myth No. 2: Lowering insulin levels helps you lose weight
Another myth is that simply lowering insulin levels can lead to weight loss. While low insulin levels can make it easier to use stored fat reserves for energy, effective weight loss depends on a holistic approach that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. In addition , drastically lowering insulin levels can be very dangerous , especially for people with certain medical conditions.
Myth No. 3: Insulin alone can cause weight loss
This myth ignores other important factors that affect weight, such as genetics, physical activity, basal metabolic rate, eating habits, and other lifestyle aspects. Although insulin plays an important role in metabolism and energy storage, it is not the only factor that affects body weight. Therefore, it is important to counter these myths with a balanced and evidence-based perspective. The relationship between insulin and weight is complex and influenced by numerous factors. A holistic and individualized approach is essential to understand and effectively control weight.
Insulin injection for weight loss? Does it help?
The relationship between insulin and weight loss is complex and cannot be reduced to a simple statement. To better understand it, the opposite would be true: a lack of insulin can lead to weight loss .
It is important to emphasize that the use of insulin as a method of weight loss can be dangerous and is not recommended under any circumstances for people who do not have a doctor's prescription for its use. Insulin abuse can have serious health consequences.
In people who do not have diabetes, insulin abuse can lead to hypoglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar levels fall dangerously low. In addition, inappropriate insulin use can imbalance metabolism, cause long-term side effects, and potentially disrupt the normal function of the pancreas.
Adjusting insulin doses in diabetics should always be done under close medical supervision . Self-medication or changing the dosage without medical advice can be very risky.
If you want to lose weight, it's best to take a healthy approach that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise . And always remember that weight loss should be a gradual and sustainable process that emphasizes a healthy lifestyle rather than quick fixes or taking over-the-counter medications.
In short, using insulin for weight loss is not only ineffective but also very dangerous.
