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When planning meals, do you frequently rely on bread or pasta? A new study in mice has found that diets high in flour-based foods may contribute to weight gain, obesity, and metabolic changes, even without increased calorie intake.
The findings highlight a potential role for carbohydrates in weight gain alongside high fat intake. Wheat flour seemed to slow how much energy the body burns while boosting fat production, leading to fat buildup in the liver and higher leptin levels. Overall, a diet heavy in refined flour may lower energy use and increase fat storage.
In the experiment, six-week-old male and female mice were offered a choice between their usual healthy diet and foods like bread or baked flour. Researchers tracked their weight and how their bodies burned calories both at rest and while active. The mice quickly switched from their regular diet to carb-heavy snacks. Male mice started gaining weight within four weeks, and by the end, they had noticeably more body fat. Follow-up testing suggested it wasn’t overeating or inactivity causing this, but the foods themselves.
On the wheat flour diet, overall calorie burning decreased, while genes involved in converting carbohydrates into fat became more active. In a subsequent withdrawal experiment, mice that were switched back to standard food after five weeks stopped gaining weight within a week, while those that continued on wheat flour kept gaining.
These findings suggest that diet can influence how the body processes nutrients and uses energy. In this case, bread may be linked to a slowdown in metabolic activity.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Wheat Flour Intake Promotes Weight Gain and Metabolic Changes in Mice
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