What is energy toxicity?

Energy toxicity refers to a condition where there is an excess amount of energy, particularly from calories, which the body is unable to use properly. This leads to storage of this excess energy in forms that can be harmful, such as increased fat in the liver and other organs, contributing to various metabolic disorders. According to Dr. Casey Means, the concept of energy toxicity involves both an excess intake of calories and a disruption in the mitochondria's ability to process these calories. This leads to widespread metabolic dysfunction and is a factor contributing to obesity and other related health issues 1.

This concept is especially significant in understanding diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes, where energy toxicity plays a central role in the etiology of these conditions. Alan Flanagan explains that chronic excess of energy intake, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, leads to the accumulation of fat in the liver, similarly to how it contributes to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes 2.