One of the key reasons I see stubborn weight gain in clinic is insulin resistance.
This is caused by excess body fat, especially around your belly, and a lack of physical activity.
A waist circumference above 80 cm for women and 94 cm for men is associated with an increased risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes (NHMRC 2013).
This excess adipose tissue houses pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are hormonal messengers, that contribute to low grade, chronic inflammation and interrupt the normal hormonal signalling in the body.
Normally, after we eat food the body breaks this down into glucose for energy, and the pancreas releases insulin to allow the liver, muscle and fat cells to utilise the glucose for energy or store it for later.
With insulin resistance, the cells become tolerant to insulin and the pancreas keeps pumping out more insulin in response. Elevated levels of insulin can result in weight gain, which then perpetuates the cycle. Eventually, the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to cope with this resistance, leading to elevated blood sugar or diabetes.
so what can we do?
๐Get moving! Aim for at least 5 x 30 min moderate paced walks per week. If you can add in some resistance training, even better!
๐Eat a healthy balanced diet of lean proteins, plenty of fruit and veggies, and steer clear of alcohol and processed foods with added sugars.
Watch my facebook or instagram videos for more detail.
If you need extra support to know WHAT to eat as well as someone to hold you accountable, that’s where I come in as a weight management practitioner.ย
Book in a free discovery call to learn more about how I can help you.
