Weight gain carbohydrates

Judging by the wild and ongoing popularity of low-carb foods and diets, it seems that many people now believe that it s carbohydrates—not fat—that cause weight gain. Carbohydrates, or carbs, are a common and important nutrient. Most carbs are found in foods that are made from plants. Some animal-based foods, such as milk, also contain carbs. Therefore, nearly all foods, from a bowl of broccoli to a candy bar, contain carbs. 

The rising incidence of obesity has not paralleled sucrose consumption. The FDA Task Force concluded that sugars have no unique role in obesity and that dietary fat rather than carbohydrate is a significant contributor to this condition (62,67,68). However, sugar can promote weight gain in individuals with life-styles marked by excess caloric intake and insufficient exercise. 

It is debatable whether obesity is related to total calorie intake or composition of macronutrients. Of the three macronutrients (i.e., carbohydrate, protein, and fat), fat has received the most attention given its desirable texture and its ability to augment the flavor of other foods. Food high in fat promotes weight gain in comparison with the other macronutrients because fat is more energy-dense. When compared with carbohydrate and protein, more than twice as many calories per gram are contained in fat. In addition, fat is stored more easily by the body compared with protein and carbohydrate.23... 

In bipolar depression, patients often have mood lability, hypersomnia, low energy, psychomotor retardation, cognitive impairments, anhedo-nia, decreased sexual activity, slowed speech, carbohydrate craving, and weight gain. 

Lipids are an essential part of our diet and of our biochemical constitution. Cell membranes need phosphoacylglycerides and cholesterol to maintain their structure and function fat provides thermal and electrical insulation while fatty acids are an important fuel, especially for muscles like the heart. However, have you ever wondered why eating too much carbohydrate causes weight gain How do jam doughnuts and sweet desserts cause unwanted changes in body shape The answer, of course, lies in biochemistry. 

The fat content of the US diet has increased very substantially over the past few decades. Currently more than 40% of dietary calories are consumed in the form of fat. This can easily lead to weight gain. The energy required for conversion of dietary fat to fat in adipose tissue involves the loss of only 3% of the calories in the dietary fat. In contrast, the energy requirement for conversion of dietary carbohydrate to fat in adipose tissue involves the loss of 23% of the calories in the dietary carbohydrate. Clearly, dietary fat is a great source of body fat. 

Weight gain is very common, especially with clozapine and olanzapine, and requires monitoring of food intake, especially carbohydrates. Hyperglycemia may develop, but whether secondary to weight gain-associated insulin resistance or to other potential mechanisms remains to be clarified. 

A 9-year-old boy with autism and overactivity was unresponsive to several drugs. Risperidone 0.5 mg bd was effective, reducing his Aberrant Behavior Checklist score from 103 to 57 by the end of the first week. Four weeks later his weight had risen from 34.6 to 37 kg. This rate of weight gain (0.6 kg/week) continued over the next 12 weeks. His weight was then contained by the use of the Zone diet, with an emphasis on slowly absorbed carbohydrates (examples include apples,... 

Paykel ES, Mueller PS, De la Vergne PM. Amitriptyline, weight gain and carbohydrate craving a side effect. Br J Psychiatry 1973 123(576) 501-7. 

Nakra BR, Grossberg GT. Carbohydrate craving weight gain with maprotiline. Psychosomatics 1986 27(5) 376381. 

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