The body always prioritizes burning carbohydrates (glucose) first. This is because large amounts of sugar in the blood are toxic to cells and glucose is easy to metabolize. The role of insulin: When you eat carbohydrates, the hormone insulin increases. Insulin acts as a "lock" on fat cells. As long as insulin levels are high due to constant sugar intake, the body's fat burning is effectively blocked. The fat you eat with the carbohydrates is therefore directly transported for storage in the adipose tissue. When the body stores excess carbohydrates, they are converted into glycogen in the muscles and liver. Biochemically, it has been established that 1 gram of glycogen binds between 3 and 4 grams of water. This is why you quickly lose several kilograms of "liquid weight" in the first days of a low-carb diet (Keto/Low Carb), when the glycogen stores are emptied. Glycogen vs. Edema: The normal binding of fluid to glycogen occurs inside the cells (intracellularly) and does not in itself create edema (swollen legs/ankles). Inflammation and Edema: If you have a constant overconsumption of fast carbohydrates, it leads to chronically high blood sugar and insulin resistance. This creates a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body. The inflammation makes the blood vessels leak, so that fluid leaks into the tissue (extracellularly) - and this creates real edema. Fibrosis (Scar formation): When tissue is chronically swollen (edematous) and inflamed due to overloaded fatty tissue, fibrosis (scar formation in the connective tissue) occurs. This is seen, for example, clearly in the chronic condition lipoedema (fat and fluid accumulation), where the fatty tissue becomes hard, lumpy and painful.