I think the upshot of much of this research is that sugar and fat aren’t directly the issue. That gut bacteria actually have a much bigger impact on both energy expenditure and appetite than we thought. Insofar as diet has a major effect on obesity (in the epidemic sense we’re seeing in the US) it might be due to diet having a harmful effect on gut bacteria. Or it might not. It’s an intriguing hypothesis, and it’s disappointing to see it devolving into an argument about “not eating too many sweets.”

Then there’s the classic lean chicken and tequila diet[1] (plus green vegetables). It’s physically impossible to gain bodyfat on that diet because the storage form of protein is muscle and other lean tissue and the storage form of alcohol is there isn’t one. The body preferentially metabolizes ethanol for immediate energy needs over all other macronutrients. So if you have fat or carbohydrates in your diet they will get stored as adipose tissue, but if you stick to protein and ethanol you’re good.

The above is a joke. However it’s useful to know if you’re cutting and planning to attend an event where you’ll be consuming alcohol. Just skip all carbs and fat that day and eat protein and dietary fiber and you won’t set yourself back at all.

[1] Any lean protein source will do, including bison, grass fed beef, some fish, some pork cuts, and so on. Same for the ethanol, has to be pure spirits, no sugar mixers.

"and the storage form of alcohol is there isn’t one."

Do you have a source for this? I would think at least secondarily it could cause fatty liver or beer belly, even if it's technically using the calories from other sources.

It’s been a while since I Google scholared this and I’m not interested in being an unpaid research assistant. I have no reason to lie, but if you want to check my claims you’ve got the tools at your fingertips.

The essence is that there is no metabolic pathway to convert dietary ethanol into lipids or glycogen. Any unused ethanol is excreted through the lungs or kidneys. Granted ingesting enough ethanol such that it’s too much for your immediate energy needs is a life limiting decision.

I'm 99% sure you're correct on the alcohol reference. From what I've read, alcohol cannot be stored but gets prioritized as caloric fuel for the body. Regarding lean protein, I'm also sure that protein gets broken down into glucose for fuel, and can be stored as such in fat. It's why the keto community is really big on such a relatively low percent of protein and high percent fat in their diet.

That diet probably works wonders because if you have ever tried to eat a bunch of lean meat, it's difficult to get through an entire chicken breast, let alone excess calories it would require you to put on weight.

Alcohol is metabolised to ATP and unused ATP will of course be stored as glycogen later. When glycogen storage are full, fat is deposited. Glucose is needed + ATP. High Protein intake will lead to gluconeogensis and create the glucose.

Please link to a metabolic ward study showing ethanol observably being converted into bodyfat through a glycogenesis to lipogenesis pathway. I only found ones saying it never happened, so I’m very interested in any counter example.

You just went from answering someone that asked you for a source with "I’m not interested in being an unpaid research assistant" to asking someone else "please link to a metabolic ward study showing..." in the same thread. Maybe people would feel a bit more generous with their time if you were willing to do the same?

> Regarding lean protein, I'm also sure that protein gets broken down into glucose for fuel, and can be stored as such in fat.

Glycogenesis is certainly a thing. However every metabolic ward study I read found that there was never a glycogenesis -> lipogenesis pathway observed. Instead excess protein was discarded renaly.

Note that it's called "beer belly" and not "alcohol belly". Beer has a not insignificant number of calories even if you don't factor in potential overeating from intoxication. If by "secondarily" you mean overeating while intoxicated I guess you could also factor in organ damage from drunk driving accidents or fights.

Not just overeating. If the body performs to use the alcohol as energy as claimed, then the normal amount of calories that you already ate would be stored instead of used. Alcohol and it's metabolites can directly cause organ damage.