Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD 84. Dr. Nick Norwitz: Why 'Evidence-Based' Medicine Fails Most People (And What to Do Instead)
Aug 7, 2025
Dr. Nick Norwitz, a Harvard-trained MD/PhD known for radical self-experimentation, reveals why conventional medicine often fails us. He critiques the reliance on population averages, highlighting how only a fraction of top drugs are effective. Exploring the N=1 approach, he encourages listeners to become their own health scientists, advocating for personalized health strategies. The conversation also covers the pitfalls of calorie counting and dives into the complexities of the ketogenic diet, all while promoting a curious and humble approach to individual health journeys.
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Obesity’s Complex Causes
- Obesity is caused by complex, multifactorial issues, not just simple explanations.
- Calories in, calories out describes an outcome, not the biological cause of obesity.
Dave Dana's Transformative Journey
- Dave Dana lost over 200 pounds, improved mental health, and changed his life by experimenting with his health.
- His success shows individual curiosity and persistence can break social norms around food and health.
Limits of Evidence-Based Medicine
- Evidence-based medicine often helps only a fraction of people due to individual variability.
- Only individuals can discover what works for their unique biology through N=1 experiments.