Paper #4 “Why We Get Fat: Adiposity 101 and the Alternative Hypothesis of Obesity”

This was one of my favorite opening sessions of the three mornings at RMC. This one challenged me to think about different ideas behind obesity causes and effects. Mr. Taubes was a very good speaker and was excited to speak about this topic, which was shown by his excitement up on stage. I thoroughly enjoyed this topic and the thoughts that were risen in my own mind and ideas that were formed. 

“Why We Get Fat: Adiposity 101 and the Alternative Hypothesis of Obesity”

                The opening session for RMC this year was a presentation by Gary Taubes. Mr. Taubes spoke about the standard of obesity as being blamed on an energy balance disorder. Taubes believes that obesity is not a result of energy imbalance, but in fact a result of the imbalance of insulin due to carbohydrate intake.

                Mr. Taubes expressed how important it was for us to realize that it is important to better understand the fundamentals of different diseases caused by obesity. Obesity is the host to different diseases such as fatty liver disease, type two diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea, and insulin resistance. Premature death can be a result of obesity, giving us another reason to expand our understanding.

                The World Health Organization claims that an energy imbalance between calories in and calories expended is the sole reason for obesity. Too much food is considered over-eating because the energy entering the body is greater than the energy exiting the body. Mr. Taubes states that eating less doesn’t work and has been proven as clinically insignificant. He stated that “there is something in the fat cells that is causing obesity”. He explained that triglycerides are too big to fit through cell membranes, causing it to be broken down into fatty acids for entrance, and then is built back up within the cell. The question is what controls the flow?

 Excess fat accumulation is the cause of obesity. Overeating and inactivity are compensatory effects, not causes, of obesity. Growth is the cause for fat production. Overeating is the effect of growth. Insulin is the main fat tissue controller. An increase in insulin causes an accumulation for fat tissue. A decrease in insulin releases the fat, causing the cells to shrink. An increase in carbohydrate intake causes an increase in insulin being secreted. Carbohydrates are driving insulin, which drives fat.

Taubes believes one of the main causes for obesity is the intake of too many carbohydrates in our daily lives, and that we should stop counting our calories.