Insulin translates unfavourable lifestyle into obesity

Abstract Lifestyle factors conferring increased diabetes risk are associated with elevated basal insulin levels (hyperinsulinaemia). The latter predicts later obesity in children and adolescents. A causal role of hyperinsulinaemia for adipose tissue growth is probable because pharmacological reduction of insulin secretion lowers body weight in people who are obese. Genetic inactivation of insulin gene alleles in mice also lowers their systemic insulin levels and prevents or ameliorates high-fat diet-induced obesity. Hyperinsulinaemia causes weight gain because of a physiological property of insulin. Insulin levels that are on the high side of normal, or which are slightly elevated, are sufficient to suppress lipolysis and promote lipogenesis in adipocytes. The effect of insulin on glucose transport or hepatic glucose production requires six or two times higher hormone levels, respectively. It seems justified to suggest a lifestyle that avoids high insulin levels in order to limit anabolic fat tissue activity.