If you are struggling to shed weight despite following a textbook perfect fitness and health regime, there may be a clinical reason for it that you haven’t yet considered.
In fact, according to Australian dietitian Susie Burrell, there is a surprisingly common hormonal issue that can explain why some people have such difficulty losing weight: insulin resistance.
‘Over time, high levels of insulin in the bloodstream can cause insulin resistance which may explain why you cannot seem to lose weight no matter what you eat or how much exercise you do,’ Susie told Daily Mail Australia.
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‘Insulin resistance is a clinical condition in which insulin, the hormone secreted by the pancreas to control blood glucose levels in the body is no longer working as efficiently as it should.’
Susie explained that over time, numerous factors including a diet high in processed carbohydrates, an inactive lifestyle and genetics can lead to insulin becoming less efficient at processing the glucose we consume in carbs like cereal, bread and fruit.
‘When insulin is not working properly, the body is forced to produce more and more insulin to process the same amount of glucose that we consume in food to fuel the muscles and the brain,’ Susie said.
‘While a high carb diet is “healthy”, highly processed carbohydrate rich foods result in a relatively high release of insulin,’ Susie said
‘The unfortunate thing when it comes to weight control is that the higher the amount of insulin that you have circulating in the body, the harder it becomes to burn body fat.
‘This means that if you have insulin resistance, you can be eating an extremely healthy diet, exercising as recommended and be physically unable to lose weight.’
Worryingly, as insulin is the central regulator of both glucose and fat metabolism in the body, when it is not working, the basic energy balance equation when it comes to weight loss, calories in versus calories out simply does not hold true.
So what are the signs?
‘As resistance builds up over many months or years, these signs and symptoms can be subtle before they become more noticeable over time,’ Susie said.
Susie said that perhaps the most ironic thing about insulin resistance is that the standard ‘low fat, high carb diet’ filled with wholegrains, fruit and low fat snacks may actually exacerbate it and may even act to prevent weight loss
‘Fatigue is common as glucose is not being taken to the cells as efficiently as it should be.
‘Sugar cravings are too common, as insulin and glucose levels fluctuate widely during the day.’
The most common sign, however, is the way that fat is deposited on the body.
‘Insulin likes to deposit fat around the abdominal area, which is why women (and men) with severe insulin resistance have a large belly,’ Susie said.
‘It is also the reason that a waist measurement greater than 80cm for a female may be a sign that insulin resistance is present.’
Susie said that perhaps the most ironic thing about insulin resistance is that the standard ‘low fat, high carb diet’ filled with wholegrains, fruit and low fat snacks may actually exacerbate it and may even act to prevent weight loss.
‘While a high carb diet is “healthy”, highly processed carbohydrate rich foods result in a relatively high release of insulin,’ Susie said.
‘The more insulin we have circulating at any one time, the less likely it is we will burn body fat.
Two recipes Susie suggests for those with IR are her Chicken Waldorf Salad and her Asian Inspired Baked Salmon with Quinoa and Vegetables
‘If you feel you may be insulin resistant, you need to see a GP with interest in the area or an endocrinologist to have it diagnosed via a Glucose Tolerance Test,’ Susie said (pictured)
‘For this reason, those with insulin resistance require a high protein, moderate carbohydrate diet which eliminates as much processed carbohydrate from the diet as possible.
‘This does not mean eliminating all carbs, rather working to combine both small amounts of carbohydrates with protein rich foods such as eggs, fish, meat, dairy or nuts at each meal and snack.’
Susie said this method ensures that the body has small amounts of carbohydrate at any one time, which in turn helps to regulate the release of insulin while the proteins help to keep you full and provide essential nutrients including the good fats, calcium and iron.
‘Ultimately insulin resistance is a clinical medical condition which needs to be diagnosed and managed accordingly,’ Susie concluded.
‘If you feel you may be insulin resistant, you need to see a GP with interest in the area or an endocrinologist to have it diagnosed via a Glucose Tolerance Test.
‘The best diet long term to support weight loss with insulin resistance is a tight calorie controlled plan with moderate levels of carbohydrate and protein, which will be best developed for each individual by a dietitian who specialises in diets for hormonal issues such as insulin resistance.’