Fructose can cause obesity by stimulating the consumption of more fatty foods. Researchers have developed the fructose survival hypothesis, which explains the link between various obesity factors.
Fructose is a destructive element that pushes the metabolism towards obesity. Although it does not provide many calories, it provokes the desire to consume more fatty foods, which leads to excessive overeating. Researchers at the University of Colorado at Anschutz have found that the solution to losing weight is to reduce both carbohydrate and fat intake. However, the problem is that our diet often contains a significant amount of fructose.
“Although virtually all hypotheses recognize the importance of reducing ultra-processed and ‘unhealthy’ foods, it remains unclear whether to focus on reducing sugar, high glycemic index carbohydrates, fats, polyunsaturated fats, or simply increasing protein intake,” the researchers write in their paper.
Scientists have studied various hypotheses about obesity and found that they can all be unified based on the fructose survival hypothesis. Fructose in the body reduces the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound that provides energy for cellular processes. When ATP levels drop, the body feels hungry and the desire to eat increases. This leads to overeating and weight gain.
The fructose survival hypothesis explains how the various factors that contribute to obesity are interconnected. Fructose causes the metabolism to switch to a low energy consumption mode, supporting the desire to eat fatty foods. This forces the body to use fat reserves, which leads to the accumulation of excess weight.
Although this mechanism is important for survival in the short term, with chronic overconsumption of food, it becomes harmful and can lead to various diseases. Research on the effects of fructose on the body is still ongoing, but these results are already an important step in understanding the problem of obesity.
