When food is eaten, its carbohydrate content is converted into glucose and absorbed by the body through the intestines. The glucose is then taken in by the muscles and brain and used as a source of energy. The remaining glucose is synthesized into neutral fat that is stored within the body. The absorption of blood glucose by the muscles and brain, the conversion of glucose to energy, and the synthesis of neutral fat from unused glucose are facilitated by a type of hormone secreted by the pancreas called insulin. Therefore, the more energy is metabolized, the less fat is accumulated within the body. Conversely, the more fat is synthesized, the more the synthesis is activated, resulting in higher fat accumulation.

When fat (cells) is broken down, a process called inflammation occurs within the body. While such inflammation normally subsides on its own, it can go rampant due to excessive fat accumulation and other factors and become chronic. When this happens, the condition is now considered chronic inflammation, which could lead to a number of lifestyle diseases and other medical conditions. If a person suffers chronic inflammation, the body becomes less sensitive to the insulin it produces (insulin resistance). If, however, the person continues to consume large amounts of carbohydrates and fat, the body secretes more insulin in an attempt to regulate the blood sugar level, which promotes fat synthesis and leads to further fat accumulation.