Obesity is second only to smoking as a leading cause of preventable deaths.
Insulin resistance or insulin sensitivity is the reduced sensitivity of the body to insulin's effects on blood sugar. The GI measures and ranks foods based on their immediate effect on blood sugar levels. Understanding the two concepts of IR and the GI, combined with client support and education, become cornerstones for influencing behavioral changes towards health in obese clients. International guidelines and research have been reviewed to provide a foundation for the relational framework, and different aspects of these key concepts are explained. Controversies surrounding IR and GI, such as measurement, ease of use, and the lasting influence on HI are discussed.