Insulin causes weight gain. It can even cause edema. Corticosteroids not only affects metabolism but causes the body to retain salt and water leading to fluid retention and bloating. I know what I’m talking about, you don’t.
I suppose you subscribe to the doctrine of magic calories. Those calories that one eats but are not burned because fat is stored rather than burned. The theory being that metabolic rate is altered such that the calories required for body heat and locomotion are magicially not needed and are stored as fat. Complete bullshit.
Here is the rest as to why Insulin causes weight gain:
From AI:
**Appetite stimulation**: Insulin can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect hunger centers in the hypothalamus. Higher insulin levels often lead to increased appetite and cravings, particularly for carbohydrates, creating a cycle where more eating leads to more insulin needs.
**Hypoglycemia and compensatory eating**: When people take insulin, they risk blood sugar dropping too low (hypoglycemia). This triggers intense hunger and the need to eat to raise blood sugar, often leading to overconsumption. Many people with diabetes develop a pattern of “treating lows” with extra calories.
**Improved glucose utilization**: Paradoxically, when someone starts insulin therapy, their body becomes more efficient at using glucose that was previously being lost in urine. This “glucose recovery” represents calories that are now being retained rather than wasted, contributing to weight gain.
**Dosing patterns**: People often gain more weight when insulin doses are higher than needed or when they eat to match their insulin rather than adjusting insulin to match their eating patterns.
**Fluid retention**: Insulin can cause the kidneys to retain sodium and water, leading to some initial weight gain from fluid retention.
The weight gain is typically most pronounced when starting insulin therapy or when increasing doses. This is why endocrinologists often discuss weight management strategies and may prefer weight-neutral or weight-loss-promoting diabetes medications when possible.