So a recent research paper has been making the rounds. It has a "red meat" title for the die hard TWICHOOB: Hyperinsulinemia Drives Diet-Induced Obesity Independently of Brain Insulin Production. This paper was brought up in my comments section as well. Every time this happens I really do feel like I'm in some sort of nutritional remake Groundhog Day. I'm a bit backlogged at the moment, but luckily Stephan Guyenet has weighed in with his analysis and included some additional studies in support of his position.
Whenever I think hyperinsulinemia causes obesity, I'm reminded of the LIRKO mouse. LIRKO is normal except its liver lacks insulin receptors. The result is a mouse with raging hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia throughout much of its young life until its liver poops out. I blogged on this mouse here: Bloggo Science ~ LIRKO Wars Edition. (Incidentally that post links to an older post by Stephan on the role of hyperinsulinemia here.) Here's the rundown on LIRKO:
