What is the primary method by which the body stores carbohydrates?

The primary method by which the body stores carbohydrates is as glycogen. Glycogen is a complex carbohydrate made up of multiple glucose units and serves as the body's readily accessible energy reserve. It is primarily stored in the liver and muscles. When the body's immediate energy needs are met, excess glucose from dietary carbohydrates is converted into glycogen through a process called glycogenesis. This stored glycogen can then be broken down into glucose and utilized when energy is required, especially during periods of fasting or intense physical activity.

Starch, while a polysaccharide similar to glycogen, is primarily a storage form of carbohydrates in plants rather than in human physiology. Glucose itself is a simple sugar and the primary energy molecule but is not a storage form. Fat, although it can be a long-term energy storage form, is not a direct method of storing carbohydrates.