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Is the Insulin Theory of Obesity Over?

Wetcoaster
Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
edited November 13 in Debate Club
http://www.thenutritionwonk.com/#!Is-the-Insulin-Theory-of-Obesity-Over/cmbz/5726e6810cf26b6d6848a8f8

Kevin Hall, PhD, says his most recent metabolic ward study combined with the paper his team released over the summer falsifies the insulin-carbohydrate theory of obesity.

The insulin theory of obesity, in short, posits that higher carbohydrate diets increase insulin secretion, which then drives fat storage and essentially “starves” muscles and organs of energy. This causes increased hunger and overeating. The reason a low-carb diet works, according to the theory, is that the lowered levels of insulin allow for the body to begin metabolizing fat and increase energy expenditure. Some, though perhaps not all, proponents of the theory think that the reason this works is due to a “metabolic advantage” of a low-carbohydrate diet – ie a person on a low carb diet burns greater calories than a person eating a diet higher in carbohydrate.



In Dr. Hall’s study published over the summer, he showed that two-groups, in a crossover trial of two diets – one high carbohydrate and one moderate – did not show a significant different in metabolic rate between the two diets. Interestingly, the low-fat group lost a greater amount of fat compared to the lower carbohydrate group.



This most recent study, which should be published in a few weeks, goes one step farther. In this study, a group of 17 overweight and obese men were put onto a controlled, high carbohydrate, calorie-controlled diet for a month and then switched to a very low carbohydrate high fat diet (80% calories from fat) for a second month. After participants were switched to the low carbohydrate diet, they experienced a small increase in energy expenditure that decreased then disappeared over the four week duration. This, Hall explains, essentially disproves the idea of the metabolic advantage.



Hall said, "I think the combination of these two studies on the metabolic side of things basically falsifies the carbohydrate insulin hypothesis."



It is important to note, Dr. Hall adds, that the studies "only falsify the predictions of the carb-insulin model with respect to body fat and metabolism changes," but, "still could be true regarding hunger/appetite." This model, since the diet arm was calorie controlled, could only test for metabolic effects and could not account for ad libitum intake.



Yesterday, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Kevin Hall during his poster presentation at the International Congress on Obesity (ICO). They livestreamed an explanation of the study and the poster on Periscope.



While both Dr. Freedhoff and Dr. Hall agree that there is no metabolic advantage for low-carb diets, they also discuss the possibility that the primary benefit of a lower carbohydrate diet is an increase in satiety. And if low-carb diets do have positive impacts on satiety, they can cause spontaneously lower caloric intake in an ad libitum diet.



Dr. Freedhoff had this to say about the conversation: "Putting hypotheses aside, if you're considering ketosis as a means to lose weight, don't forget that if you stop your diet, just as with any diet, the weight you've lost is almost certain to return. So with whatever diet you choose, you'd better be damn sure you like it enough to keep with it forever."


https://youtu.be/atfBiEsxG5o
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Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I'd bet it's not even close to being over. :)
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    edited May 2016
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    I'm more interested in who funds their research. Coca-cola?

    Amazingly, if you follow the link you can see the answer to that question. You can also read about the study.

    I'd advise that.

    Thanks for the suggestion. I agree it's important to read the original scientific literature. As a physician, I'm challenged to interpret the evidence in my clinical decision making and it's less clear cut than the layman would think.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    Really? Please elaborate.
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    Really? Please elaborate.
    I could go into an exegesis, but to keep it simple I'll say, ignore the text and just look at the hard data reported. The hard data flies in the face of their conclusion, yet they create some value called net fat oxidation that would seem to support their theory. I say "show me the money," in other words - what's statistically significant? The only statistically significant differences they found were - increased fat oxidation and increased weight loss in the high fat/low carb diet. (I'm referring to his first study).
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    edited May 2016
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    Really? Please elaborate.
    I could go into an exegesis, but to keep it simple I'll say, ignore the text and just look at the hard data reported. The hard data flies in the face of their conclusion, yet they create some value called net fat oxidation that would seem to support their theory. I say "show me the money," in other words - what's statistically significant? The only statistically significant differences they found were - increased fat oxidation and increased weight loss in the high fat/low carb diet. (I'm referring to his first study).

    Create a value? Net fat oxidation would be Total fat oxidized for energy - fat intake and creation.
    That's nothing you have to create, that's what you need to do to find out how much fat was actually lost. If you eat 2000 cals of fat and your body uses 2000 cals of fat you haven't lost any fat. If you're eating 500 cals of fat and your body uses 1000 cals of fat, you lost 500 cals of fat.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.
  • Crisseyda
    Crisseyda Posts: 532 Member
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL

    Didn't know you're eating 8000 calories for 140g to be 7%.
  • Crisseyda
    Crisseyda Posts: 532 Member
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL

    Didn't know you're eating 8000 calories for 140g to be 7%.

    Fat was severely restricted to 7% of calories in the fat restricted group. In the carb restricted group, it was not 7% of calories.
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    Really? Please elaborate.
    I could go into an exegesis, but to keep it simple I'll say, ignore the text and just look at the hard data reported. The hard data flies in the face of their conclusion, yet they create some value called net fat oxidation that would seem to support their theory. I say "show me the money," in other words - what's statistically significant? The only statistically significant differences they found were - increased fat oxidation and increased weight loss in the high fat/low carb diet. (I'm referring to his first study).

    Create a value? Net fat oxidation would be Total fat oxidized for energy - fat intake and creation.
    That's nothing you have to create, that's what you need to do to find out how much fat was actually lost. If you eat 2000 cals of fat and your body uses 2000 cals of fat you haven't lost any fat. If you're eating 500 cals of fat and your body uses 1000 cals of fat, you lost 500 cals of fat.

    We already know eating a calorie deficit of any micronutrient ratio would lead to fat oxidation because that how energy is mostly stored in the body. Again, show me the money!
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL

    Didn't know you're eating 8000 calories for 140g to be 7%.

    Fat was severely restricted to 7% of calories in the fat restricted group. In the carb restricted group, it was not 7% of calories.

    I know what it was in the study. I'm just saying reducing fat to 7% would be no more weird than reducing carbs to 7%, yet a ton of people are doing exactly that.
  • This content has been removed.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    This study isn't published yet. How did you read it?
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    A 24-month study would help show the facts of any diet.
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    This study isn't published yet. How did you read it?

    I was referring to the first study referenced in the article which was published.
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    A 24-month study would help show the facts of any diet.

    I agree, I've got an N of 1 greater than 24 month study, which is sufficient for me.
  • jquizzle10
    jquizzle10 Posts: 18 Member
    heyitsame wrote: »
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    jquizzle10 wrote: »
    Actually, I read this study pretty throughly (not the press release, the actual study), and didn't reach the same conclusion as the authors. So, I would say no, the debate is not over.

    Really? Please elaborate.
    I could go into an exegesis, but to keep it simple I'll say, ignore the text and just look at the hard data reported. The hard data flies in the face of their conclusion, yet they create some value called net fat oxidation that would seem to support their theory. I say "show me the money," in other words - what's statistically significant? The only statistically significant differences they found were - increased fat oxidation and increased weight loss in the high fat/low carb diet. (I'm referring to his first study).

    And as previous studies have shown, increased fat intake leads to increased fat oxidation but not necessarily increased body fat oxidation. Increased weight loss was likely caused by either water or muscle loss as there were insignificant differences in fat loss between the diets.

    There was no significant difference in fat mass change in the two groups. So, the study was pretty much null on this point.
  • Crisseyda
    Crisseyda Posts: 532 Member
    edited May 2016
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL

    Didn't know you're eating 8000 calories for 140g to be 7%.

    Fat was severely restricted to 7% of calories in the fat restricted group. In the carb restricted group, it was not 7% of calories.

    I know what it was in the study. I'm just saying reducing fat to 7% would be no more weird than reducing carbs to 7%, yet a ton of people are doing exactly that.

    Reducing fat to 7% and eating at a deficit is incredibly hard--you try it sometime, and tell me what you ate in a day and how you felt--in fact, try it for a month or two. That's why these guys had to be in a controlled environment. Reducing carbohydrates to 7% and eating at a deficit is so much easier that the deficit usually occurs without even trying, especially for someone with extra body fat who is eating unprocessed foods.

    That being said, the original study didn't even limit carbs that significantly. It wasn't even a ketogenic diet. I guess the original study was so flawed, he had to do a follow up.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    He's testing different but related things, and does not believe the first study was flawed. They weren't testing keto diets, and needed to be able to decrease calories the same amount from reducing carbs and reducing fat in the first one. That's why it was not a true low carb diet -- one problem with most low carb vs. moderate fat studies (which is what most are) is that the low carb ends up also having increased protein by comparison.

    On VLF diets, not for me (nor is keto), but I found this interesting: https://rawfoodsos.com/2015/10/06/in-defense-of-low-fat-a-call-for-some-evolution-of-thought-part-1/
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    edited May 2016
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL

    Didn't know you're eating 8000 calories for 140g to be 7%.

    Fat was severely restricted to 7% of calories in the fat restricted group. In the carb restricted group, it was not 7% of calories.

    I know what it was in the study. I'm just saying reducing fat to 7% would be no more weird than reducing carbs to 7%, yet a ton of people are doing exactly that.

    Reducing fat to 7% and eating at a deficit is incredibly hard--you try it sometime, and tell me what you ate in a day and how you felt--in fact, try it for a month or two. That's why these guys had to be in a controlled environment. Reducing carbohydrates to 7% and eating at a deficit is so much easier that the deficit usually occurs without even trying, especially for someone with extra body fat who is eating unprocessed foods.

    That being said, the original study didn't even limit carbs that significantly. It wasn't even a ketogenic diet. I guess the original study was so flawed, he had to do a follow up.

    Eat nothing but fruit and veggies. Don't add oil to your salad. Done. Not exactly hard. Hell, you could add lean meats to the equation too, those are about 5% fat.
  • Crisseyda
    Crisseyda Posts: 532 Member
    Low fat advocates love to hearken back to that study. In fact, Hall designed it on purpose to "disprove" Gary Taubes. Taubes response, "what about hunger?"

    It was an extremely controlled environment. Even if the findings were true, how could people apply it in real life? Cut your fat to 7% and eat at a deficit... nothing about that sounds normal... and the "findings" actually prove nothing except if you eat low fat at a deficit, you burn more fat than you consume--duh.

    The thing that really troubles me is the data points on which they chose to fixate. They clearly could have focused on anything else, such as the restricted carb group losing more weight and with greater improvements in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. To me, it speaks to a blatant misrepresentation based on an agenda.

    Also, in my eyes, reducing carbs to that low and eating at a deficit is no more or less normal than reducing fat to that low, but whatever.

    Restricting to an average of 140 g carbs per day is abnormal? LOL

    Didn't know you're eating 8000 calories for 140g to be 7%.

    Fat was severely restricted to 7% of calories in the fat restricted group. In the carb restricted group, it was not 7% of calories.

    I know what it was in the study. I'm just saying reducing fat to 7% would be no more weird than reducing carbs to 7%, yet a ton of people are doing exactly that.

    Reducing fat to 7% and eating at a deficit is incredibly hard--you try it sometime, and tell me what you ate in a day and how you felt--in fact, try it for a month or two. That's why these guys had to be in a controlled environment. Reducing carbohydrates to 7% and eating at a deficit is so much easier that the deficit usually occurs without even trying, especially for someone with extra body fat who is eating unprocessed foods.

    That being said, the original study didn't even limit carbs that significantly. It wasn't even a ketogenic diet. I guess the original study was so flawed, he had to do a follow up.

    Eat nothing but fruit and veggies. Don't add oil to your salad. Done. Not exactly hard. Hell, you could add lean meats to the equation too, those are about 5% fat.

    ok... not hard to plan, but extremely hard to implement... did you really miss my meaning there? lawlz
This discussion has been closed.