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Insulin resistance is a metabolic state in which the body’s cells respond less effectively to insulin, reducing their ability to take up and use glucose from the bloodstream. In response, the pancreas may produce more insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels, resulting in compensatory hyperinsulinemia; over time, persistent insulin resistance can contribute to impaired glucose regulation, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is also associated with obesity, inflammation, and alterations in metabolic processes that may interact with brain function, cognition, mood, and psychological well-being. Research in nutritional psychology is increasingly examining these connections as part of the broader relationship between metabolic health, dietary patterns, and mental health (Mirabelli et al., 2020; Sethi et al., 2026).
Author and reviewer
Editorial responsibilityReferences and further reading
- Mirabelli M, Russo D, Brunetti A. The Role of Diet on Insulin Sensitivity. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3042. doi:10.3390/nu12103042. View source
How to cite this entry
Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. (2026). Insulin Resistance. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/insulin-resistance/Know a term that belongs in the Encyclopedia?
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