We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Jason Fung: The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss

Sabine_Stroehm
Posts: 19,251 Member
Has anyone read it yet? I'm trying to wait for the audible version.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Obesity-Code-Unlocking-Secrets/dp/1771641258/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/The-Obesity-Code-Unlocking-Secrets/dp/1771641258/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
0
Replies
-
The 7 part video series is a great watch as well0
-
-
It sounds like a great work per the reviews.0
-
GaleHawkins wrote: »It sounds like a great work per the reviews.
It does. I think I'll go ahead and splurge, and then get the audio when it comes out.0 -
Yes and it's great to learn more about how hormones affect weight and hunger. It's much less technical then Phinney and Volek's "the art and science of low carb living"...but so insightful. I also read and highly recommend Taubes "why we get fat". I read both Taubes and Fung back to back within a few days and reference them a lot when I find conflicting information.
One thing which both books really drove home to me is how intentionally misled Americans have been between the government and medical community recommendations. I picked up on it in P&V's books, but really when you see over and over, how recommendations come out based on severely limited data and incomplete science, it really started hitting home to me just how dangerous it is for MOST people to eat SAD. The advice that is continued to be given to diabetics is incredibly scary to me.
In addition to following a keto won, I have over the past two months started IF and while my weight loss is slow, I have dropped 2+ clothing sizes, I am no longer controlled by cravings and hunger/energy loss. I have a much better understanding of what insulin response is and how my body is managing it and a lot less fear about becoming diabetic (like my parents and older siblings/family members). I understand better how nutrition works for me and I love these books for opening up my eyes to it.0 -
Yes and it's great to learn more about how hormones affect weight and hunger. It's much less technical then Phinney and Volek's "the art and science of low carb living"...but so insightful. I also read and highly recommend Taubes "why we get fat". I read both Taubes and Fung back to back within a few days and reference them a lot when I find conflicting information.
One thing which both books really drove home to me is how intentionally misled Americans have been between the government and medical community recommendations. I picked up on it in P&V's books, but really when you see over and over, how recommendations come out based on severely limited data and incomplete science, it really started hitting home to me just how dangerous it is for MOST people to eat SAD. The advice that is continued to be given to diabetics is incredibly scary to me.
In addition to following a keto won, I have over the past two months started IF and while my weight loss is slow, I have dropped 2+ clothing sizes, I am no longer controlled by cravings and hunger/energy loss. I have a much better understanding of what insulin response is and how my body is managing it and a lot less fear about becoming diabetic (like my parents and older siblings/family members). I understand better how nutrition works for me and I love these books for opening up my eyes to it.
Thanks for this!0 -
Yes and it's great to learn more about how hormones affect weight and hunger. It's much less technical then Phinney and Volek's "the art and science of low carb living"...but so insightful. I also read and highly recommend Taubes "why we get fat". I read both Taubes and Fung back to back within a few days and reference them a lot when I find conflicting information.
One thing which both books really drove home to me is how intentionally misled Americans have been between the government and medical community recommendations. I picked up on it in P&V's books, but really when you see over and over, how recommendations come out based on severely limited data and incomplete science, it really started hitting home to me just how dangerous it is for MOST people to eat SAD. The advice that is continued to be given to diabetics is incredibly scary to me.
In addition to following a keto won, I have over the past two months started IF and while my weight loss is slow, I have dropped 2+ clothing sizes, I am no longer controlled by cravings and hunger/energy loss. I have a much better understanding of what insulin response is and how my body is managing it and a lot less fear about becoming diabetic (like my parents and older siblings/family members). I understand better how nutrition works for me and I love these books for opening up my eyes to it.
Great insight!
Congrats on your success!0 -
@DAM5412 ----I've learned so much from watching Dr. Fung's videos and reading his website. Does the book contain different info than what is on the videos and website? I know there will be a lot of duplication by necessity, but wonder if there's additional material. Thanks. And congrats on dropping 2+ sizes!0
-
I'm reading his book now. Not much new for those of us who have watched all his excellent lectures on youtube. But I wanted to support him. Since he was instrumental to me to understand stuff. He also put out countless hours of research for free on youtube in a comprehensive way for a layman.
Anyway. It was Dr. Fung and Brad Pilon who sold me into fasting 1.5 years ago. I started with Mosley's 5:2 plan, but wanted to know more. They explained WHY fasting works and HOW. I remain convinced that calorie cycling is a better way to keep the body guessing and not get too accustomed to a deficit.
Here is a recent video with arguments why fasting can be an effective tool.https://youtu.be/tIuj-oMN-Fk
About catabolism. Often people think fasting will lead to muscle loss. Both Pilon and Fung refer to studies showing that at longer fasts +16 or 18 hrs the body produces HGH human growth hormone. Possibly to counter muscle loss in times of little food?
Another point I haven't really seen is that even the most advanced body comp scans like DEXA does NOT differentiate between glycogen, blood and muscle. Intramuscular glycogen can't be separated from muscle fiber. It's all lumped into LBM (everything except fat). Even bones and connective tissue is counted into LBM...
Well, we all know how a lowcarb diet sheds water weight. Guess what, so does fasting! So could it be that the less LBM could have mistakenly be interpreted as muscle fiber loss? I'd speculate that is what happened. Personally, I've gained muscle here and there. Not much, but my calves, thigh and back muscles are noticeably bigger. Noob gains for sure.
@DAM4512. Regarding your minus 2 clothing sizes. Was fasting the only variable you changed for this body recomp? I have same experience as you. During winter 2015 I went down from L-M to S-SX in clothing size.
Sadly I've regained some kilos, but I haven't done longer fasting regularly for over a year. Only done the daily window.. so I gotta start again!0 -
Totally agree about getting Dr. Fung's book as a measure of support. I've ordered it already and eager for it to arrive. There is so much to learn about the way the body functions and how LCHF and IF impact it!
Thanks for the video!
0 -
Thanks @Foamroller for this link. Awesome.
Edit: This is better than AWESOME. Finally I understand LCHF and IF.0 -
I read it last month. It was a very good book. As already stated, there is not a lot of new stuff from his videos or his IDM blogs. I borrowed it from the library but I'd like to buy it to read it again.
As and aisde, I love what he calls sugar burners' diets who just cut calories to lose weight: Calorie Reduced (or Reduction) as Primary.... CRaP. LOL0 -
I read it last month. It was a very good book. As already stated, there is not a lot of new stuff from his videos or his IDM blogs. I borrowed it from the library but I'd like to buy it to read it again.
As and aisde, I love what he calls sugar burners' diets who just cut calories to lose weight: Calorie Reduced (or Reduction) as Primary.... CRaP. LOL
That's the best!
I listened to his most recent interview with Jimmy Moore today and it was great as usual. I can't wait for Fasting Clarity. They talked about how it will simplify fasting ideas without leaving out too much detail. Just the right amount of science and "how-to", it sounds like.0 -
I did part 1 of 6 and 6 of 6 tonight. part 6 nails why to eat saturated for heart health protection.0
-
Foamroller wrote: »I'm reading his book now. Not much new for those of us who have watched all his excellent lectures on youtube. But I wanted to support him. Since he was instrumental to me to understand stuff. He also put out countless hours of research for free on youtube in a comprehensive way for a layman.
Anyway. It was Dr. Fung and Brad Pilon who sold me into fasting 1.5 years ago. I started with Mosley's 5:2 plan, but wanted to know more. They explained WHY fasting works and HOW. I remain convinced that calorie cycling is a better way to keep the body guessing and not get too accustomed to a deficit.
Here is a recent video with arguments why fasting can be an effective tool.https://youtu.be/tIuj-oMN-Fk
About catabolism. Often people think fasting will lead to muscle loss. Both Pilon and Fung refer to studies showing that at longer fasts +16 or 18 hrs the body produces HGH human growth hormone. Possibly to counter muscle loss in times of little food?
Another point I haven't really seen is that even the most advanced body comp scans like DEXA does NOT differentiate between glycogen, blood and muscle. Intramuscular glycogen can't be separated from muscle fiber. It's all lumped into LBM (everything except fat). Even bones and connective tissue is counted into LBM...
Well, we all know how a lowcarb diet sheds water weight. Guess what, so does fasting! So could it be that the less LBM could have mistakenly be interpreted as muscle fiber loss? I'd speculate that is what happened. Personally, I've gained muscle here and there. Not much, but my calves, thigh and back muscles are noticeably bigger. Noob gains for sure.
@DAM4512. Regarding your minus 2 clothing sizes. Was fasting the only variable you changed for this body recomp? I have same experience as you. During winter 2015 I went down from L-M to S-SX in clothing size.
Sadly I've regained some kilos, but I haven't done longer fasting regularly for over a year. Only done the daily window.. so I gotta start again!
Thanks much for posting this!0 -
nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-8-75
I am with intent at this point in time burying this link in this thread because some who do not share our hopes for keto do visit I am sure. I am trying to avoid using the "C" word because it is such a red flag and easy to search on.
Drill down to: Fat and ketone bodies: anti-cachectic effects
The article is awesome from top to bottom but it is research of research so some of it really is technical but any of you will get the take home message from just reading what is understandable at a high school level.
Part 6 of 6 of Dr. Fung's video series and the link below spurred my research last night and today. The article below was just setting there when I opened my phone browser at McDonald's yesterday but I had never seen it before. If the link spurs some thoughts good and if not just ignore it. I am still looking for the results of the study it is talking about . Thanks
cancerci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2867-9-140 -
I bought the book today, on kindle. Too enticing. God I'm a geek, if you look at my Kindle library.0
-
I am sure there are flaws in his take on some things but he made a lot of things click in my old head finally.0
-
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »I bought the book today, on kindle. Too enticing. God I'm a geek, if you look at my Kindle library.
I'm sure you're not the only one around here! I'm sure I'm in that category.0 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Has anyone read it yet? I'm trying to wait for the audible version.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Obesity-Code-Unlocking-Secrets/dp/1771641258/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Have you heard if there will be an audiobook ? That would be great, I would wait for that too.
0 -
His 6 part series (about 6 hours) on Youtube gives a good start on what he has to say I think. They are older then the link above. It would be nice to have it on CD for the car since I not listen to music typically.0
-
KarlynKeto wrote: »Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Has anyone read it yet? I'm trying to wait for the audible version.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Obesity-Code-Unlocking-Secrets/dp/1771641258/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Have you heard if there will be an audiobook ? That would be great, I would wait for that too.
I saw something about that, yeah.0 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »I bought the book today, on kindle. Too enticing. God I'm a geek, if you look at my Kindle library.
I'm sure you're not the only one around here! I'm sure I'm in that category.
Mine run the gamut. A pile of low carb books. I have all the Joel Fuhrman nutritarian books. ALL the South Beach books (which make the most sense to me), Lots of weight lifting books, a pile of menopause books. You name it.
Oh, and of course, every book from my main man Michael Pollan.0 -
I am REALLY enjoying his book. As an academic, who has to write for a living, can I say: What a good writer he is. Really refreshing.
I watched a few of his youtube videos, and though he's delightful to watch (yum, sorry), he's a little hard to listen to. But boy can he write.0 -
This is a great book. I recommend it to anyone that is obese and struggles with long term weight loss. I've lost 70 pounds 4 times. Ha, ha. It's an easy read and fabulous! I've lost 9 pounds in two weeks with LCHF and Dr. Fungs recommendations on intermittent fasting. If you are a LCHF believer, this book might be the hack you need for great success. Fasting is actually really easy!
Anyone that wants to friend me, I'd like new low carb buddies.
Cheers0 -
I'm awaiting my hard copy, but in the meantime they gave me chapter one on my Kindle. I can't wait to read the rest of it!0
-
My library doesn't have it - they'll probably order if, though, if I request it. Maybe I'll just get it on my phone...0
This discussion has been closed.