Glycogen Storage Variations as a Cause of Obesity When energy is stored for a short time as Glycogen the body has to use up 2 ATP per glucose molecule to do so. But if an individual is unable to do this they will store the energy as fat. Fat storage uses up even more ATP than making glycogen. This means someone who stores short-term energy needs as fat will waste more energy than someone who can store short term energy as glycogen. This means that one who makes such storage as fat has less energy left over at the end of the day to put away as long term fat. ie is less likely to become obese
This idea was tested by Naismith et al. In London 1976 by measuring the amount of blood glucose following a meal (as well as other blood chemistry) and it was observed that obese individuals maintained their blood sugar higher than thin people. (see below) This explained also why thin people became hungry sooner than the obese individuals and more irritable as well. This explains why fat people are often "meal eaters" whereas thin people are usually "snack eaters" or nibblers. May be why fat people are said to be "nicer".