hormones
Insulin Resistance
A state in which cells respond poorly to insulin, forcing the pancreas to release more — associated with central obesity, PCOS, and type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is the inverse of insulin sensitivity: cells absorb glucose less efficiently, so blood insulin stays elevated, promoting fat storage and hunger. It is strongly linked to visceral fat, PCOS, and metabolic syndrome. The most evidence-backed reversers are fat loss (even 5% of body weight), resistance training, zone-2 cardio, high-fibre diets, and sleep — not carbohydrate elimination per se. A moderate 20–25% deficit outperforms extreme cuts, which often rebound.
Primary Sources
- DeFronzo RA, Tripathy D. "Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is the primary defect in type 2 diabetes." Diabetes Care. 2009.
- Magkos F et al. "Effects of moderate and subsequent progressive weight loss on metabolic function." Cell Metab. 2016.