Plain English with Derek Thompson

A Grand, Unified Theory of Why Americans Are So Unhealthy

145 snips
Jun 18, 2025
David Kessler, former FDA commissioner and author of 'Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine,' teams up with Eric Topol, cardiologist and author of 'Super Agers.' They dive into America's alarming obesity epidemic, linking it to an industrialized food environment and chronic inflammation. The duo discusses the evolution of our food response, unveiling how ultra-processed foods sabotage health. Excitingly, they explore GLP-1 drugs as potential game changers in reversing these trends and fostering healthier lifestyles.
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ANECDOTE

Kessler's Personal Weight Struggle

  • David Kessler shared his lifelong struggle with weight gain and loss cycles.
  • He revealed he ate to calm himself and increase focus, often grazing all day triggered by seeing the refrigerator.
INSIGHT

Brain Evolution Meets Caloric Abundance

  • Our brains evolved to favor energy-dense food due to past scarcity.
  • Today's calorie-rich environment overwhelms these circuits, causing overeating and obesity.
INSIGHT

Metabolic Chaos from Ultra-Processed Foods

  • Ultra-processed foods lack natural structure, causing rapid glucose absorption.
  • This rapid spike leads to metabolic chaos and worsens chronic disease risk.
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