Scientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories

New research suggests carbohydrate staples like bread can trigger metabolic changes that promote fat storage, independent of calorie intake. | Contesto: cronaca

Punti chiave

• Scientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories

Contesto

A team of scientists has uncovered a potential mechanism explaining why diets high in common carbohydrates like bread, rice, and wheat may contribute to weight gain, even in the absence of increased calorie consumption. The research, published in a leading scientific journal, found that when mice were given access to these foods, they exhibited a strong, almost exclusive preference for them, abandoning their nutritionally balanced standard diet. Crucially, these mice subsequently gained significant body fat without consuming more total calories than a control group, pointing to a fundamental shift in how their bodies processed energy. The core finding challenges a conventional pillar of weight management—the calorie balance model. The mice did not gain weight because they ate more; they gained weight because their bodies burned less. The researchers observed a measurable decrease in energy expenditure, meaning the mice's metabolisms slowed down, converting more of the ingested energy into stored fat rather than utilizing it for immediate bodily functions and heat. This metabolic adaptation occurred specifically in response to the high-carbohydrate intake, suggesting these foods can directly influence the body's energy efficiency in a way that promotes fat accumulation. This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to the long-standing debate over the roles of diet composition versus sheer calorie count in obesity. For decades, public health messaging has often centered on the simple equation of "calories in versus calories out." However, this study implies that the "calories out" side of that equation is not a fixed variable but can be dynamically suppressed by certain dietary components. The type of calorie, particularly from highly palatable, refined carbohydrates, may be as important as the quantity, influencing hormonal pathways and neural circuits that govern metabolic rate and fat storage. The implications for human nutrition, while still requiring extensive clinical verification, are provocative. It suggests that individuals struggling with weight management despite careful calorie counting might be facing a hidden metabolic hurdle. If similar mechanisms...

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Categoria: cronaca