Online, insulin resistance now seems to be the explanation for almost every weight-related problem. But what actually is it? And when does it really play a role?

Insulin helps your body use energy

After every meal, the amount of glucose in your blood rises. That's completely normal, because glucose is an important fuel for your body.

Your pancreas then produces insulin. This hormone helps move glucose from your blood into your muscles, liver and other organs, where your body either uses the energy immediately or stores it temporarily. Usually this process happens without you noticing.

What happens with insulin resistance?

With insulin resistance, your cells respond less well to insulin. Your body initially compensates by producing more insulin.

As a result, your blood sugar often stays normal for a long time, while your body has to work harder and harder to keep it that way.

That's exactly why you don't always notice insulin resistance straight away. The process can develop over years before clear abnormalities appear.

Why does this make losing weight harder?

Insulin doesn't just regulate your blood sugar. It also plays an important role in storing energy.

When your body needs a lot of insulin, it uses stored fat as fuel less easily. At the same time, many people feel hungry more often and feel full for a shorter time after a meal.

This can easily create a vicious circle. You get hungry sooner, eat more without realising it, and find that losing weight takes more and more effort.

That doesn't mean insulin resistance is the only cause of excess weight. Weight is always the result of an interplay between hormones, lifestyle, sleep, stress and genetic predisposition. Insulin resistance can, however, reinforce that process.

Who is at greater risk?

Insulin resistance usually develops gradually.

Excess weight, little physical activity, chronic stress, disrupted sleep and genetic predisposition all increase the risk. Women with PCOS are also more likely to have insulin resistance.

That said, it doesn't mean every woman with excess weight or PCOS is automatically insulin resistant.

What symptoms might you experience?

Many women find that losing weight remains difficult, that they quickly get hungry again, or that their energy levels fluctuate strongly throughout the day. Some mainly crave sweet things or actually feel tired after a meal.

These symptoms can fit with insulin resistance, but they can also have other causes. That's why we always look at the bigger picture.

Can insulin resistance be improved?

Fortunately, yes.

Regular exercise, and especially strength training, makes your muscles more sensitive to insulin. A diet with enough protein, fibre and healthy fats also helps keep your blood sugar more stable and keeps you feeling full for longer.

Sleep and stress deserve at least as much attention. Long-term stress and lack of sleep also affect your metabolism and your sensitivity to insulin.

Sometimes, alongside lifestyle changes, we also recommend medication, such as metformin or a GLP-1 analogue. Medication supports a healthy lifestyle, but never replaces it.

The key message

Insulin resistance doesn't mean your body is "broken" or that losing weight becomes impossible. It does mean your body responds less sensitively to insulin, which changes your metabolism and can make weight loss take more effort.

Fortunately, you can often influence this a great deal. With the right combination of diet, exercise, sleep, stress management and, where needed, medication, you can improve your insulin sensitivity.

That's why at Flouria we don't just look at the scales or a lab result. We look at the bigger picture. Because when hormones, metabolism and lifestyle work together better again, there's room for a healthier weight and a body that comes back into balance.