Habits and Hustle

Episode 418: Dr. Jason Fung: Why Calories Are Not the Key to Weight Loss

Jan 24, 2025

Dr. Jason Fung, a New York Times bestselling author and expert in obesity and intermittent fasting, challenges the myth that weight loss is solely about calories. He discusses how hormones, particularly insulin, affect fat storage and emphasizes the varied impacts of different foods on our bodies. Fung argues against the oversimplified 'calories in, calories out' approach, advocating for a deeper understanding of how our bodies process energy. He also highlights the role of protein and the dangers of processed carbs in the weight loss journey.

13:56

Episode guests

Jason Fung

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Dr. Jason Fung emphasizes that weight loss is not just about calories consumed, but also about the body's hormonal responses to different foods.

Understanding that processed and high-sugar foods spike insulin levels, leading to fat storage, is crucial for effective weight management.

Deep dives

The Misconception of Calories

The concept of weight loss often revolves around the simple equation of calories in versus calories out, but this oversimplification ignores several key factors. It is important to understand that not all calories are equal; the body metabolizes different foods in distinct ways. For instance, 100 calories from cookies affect the body differently than 100 calories from broccoli, as the latter provides nutrients that can promote fat burning rather than storage. The way the body utilizes food energy is influenced by hormonal responses, challenging the notion that merely reducing calorie intake will effectively result in weight loss.

Intro

2min

Rethinking Caloric Intake and Weight Loss

4min

Beyond Calories: The Hormonal Impact on Weight Gain

4min

Understanding Calories and Insulin: The Role of Food Types in Metabolism

3min

Listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/nncEWmQFiSo?si=GanDDq9g0w1qDtE4

There's a common belief that weight loss is simply about "calories in, calories out" - but according to Dr. Jason Fung, this is actually false and misleading information.

In this bonus episode of the Habits and Hustle podcast, I talk with the author of The Obesity Code, a renowned expert on obesity and intermittent fasting, who explains that there is much more to gaining or losing weight than just the number of calories consumed. It's not only about the energy in the food, but critically, it's about what your body does with that energy.

We dive into the complex role of hormones and common myths around calories to make a compelling case for why we need to look beyond overly-simplistic "eat less, move more" advice to understand obesity and weight loss.

Dr. Jason Fung is a New York Times-bestselling author of many books including The Obesity Code and The Diabetes Code. He completed medical school at the University of Toronto and a fellowship in nephrology at UCLA. He is the co-founder of The Fasting Method, a program to help people lose weight and reverse type 2 diabetes naturally with intermittent fasting.

What We Discuss:

"Calories in, calories out" overly simplistic
Body stores or burns calories based on hormones
Different foods have different hormonal effects
Insulin drives fat storage; spiked by certain foods
Protein: insulin and satiety effects
Processed carbs especially fattening
Foods' hormonal impacts key, not just calories

…and more!

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Find more from Jason Fung:

Website: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjasonfung/