Unexplained fatigue and belly fat? Early signs of insulin resistance can show up in surprising ways, says celebrity nutritionist

How many times have you looked at the mirror only to get upset about your stubborn belly fat? Although calories are the primary driver of gaining extra pounds, hormones, lack of exercise, unregulated stress, poor sleep schedule, age and medications can significantly influence how and where your body stores fat. Weight gain creeps up slowly and, if left unchecked, can lead to serious long-term problems. But do you know that there can be another underlying reason for that persistent abdominal bulge? It is insulin resistance, as revealed by integrative lifestyle expert Luke Countinho.

In his recent X-entry, Luke Coutinho revealed that belly fat that refuses to go away, coupled with brain fog and fatigue, might not always result from stress or age. They could be the early symptoms of insulin resistance. Elaborating on the topic, the health guru shared 5 warning signs one shouldn’t ignore.

Warning symptoms of insulin resistance

Increasing waistline


As per Luke Coutinho, when an individual suffers from insulin resistance, abdominal fat starts increasing despite healthy eating and exercise.

Abnormal blood markers

The lifestyle coach explained that poor insulin function often reflects in blood reports, such as fasting sugar levels rising above 100 mg/dL, coupled with high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol.

Skin changes

Metabolic imbalance linked to impaired insulin activity can manifest on the skin as tags or darkened, velvety patches around the neck, armpits, or groin, shared the celebrity nutritionist.

Constant fatigue and hunger

The health expert said that when cells fail to absorb glucose due to reduced insulin sensitivity, the body finds it hard to access energy. It can lead to persistent tiredness and frequent hunger pangs.

Brain fog or unusual symptoms

On a final note, Luke Coutinho revealed that fluctuating blood sugar levels driven by underlying insulin dysfunction can contribute to difficulty concentrating, mood swings, feeling thirsty often, frequent urination, and even foot tingling.

Apollo doctor backs Luke Coutinho's statement

In conclusion, Luke Coutinho said that insulin resistance, if left unchecked, can cause type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive decline. Hence, it was mandatory to seek proper guidance.

According to Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, reinforced the idea proposed by Luke Coutinho. The doctor shared that insulin resistance often begins years before diabetes is diagnosed, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and other complications. He recommended early screening through tools like the HOMA-IR calculation, derived from fasting glucose and insulin levels, to detect metabolic imbalance.


Dr. Sudhir Kumar stressed the importance of measuring abdominal obesity through waist circumference or waist-hip ratio. Monitoring the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio can further indicate underlying insulin dysfunction, he added. Regular blood pressure checks are equally crucial, he stressed, as hypertension frequently develops without symptoms, increasing cardiovascular risk.