Review: Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It by Gary Taubes

Synopsis: Taubes reveals the bad nutritional science of the last century—none more damaging or misguided than the “calories-in, calories-out” model of why we get fat—and the good science that has been ignored. He also answers the most persistent questions: Why are some people thin and others fat? What roles do exercise and genetics play in our weight? What foods should we eat, and what foods should we avoid? Persuasive, straightforward, and practical, Why We Get Fat is an essential guide to nutrition and weight management. (from the back of the books)

Review: I cannot stress enough how important this book is in our diet and weight-obsessed culture. This book takes the message from Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories and distills it to the basic concepts. That concept is that the diet advice we've been given over the last 60+ years is wrong. Not only wrong, but has had dire adverse effects on the health of our world.
With clear and concise words, Taubes demonstrates how our current advice came into being, tracing it from the beginning and explaining the science in easy to understand terms. From this, the reader clearly learns how carbohydrates, proteins, and fat interact with the endocrine systems and how they provide energy to the body. The science indisputably shows that when insulin works correctly, the body maintains a proper weight (based on genetics). But if the insulin processes in the body are damaged, then carbohydrates directly caused the accumulation of fat, leading to weight gain. It is the carbohydrates in our food, not the fat, that causing obesity. Taubes proves that using science.
The end result for the reader is the knowledge that the diet advice given by the government to prevent obesity and diabetes may be the very thing that has caused the epic rise of both in our society.
If you have every struggled with your weight, ever been confused by the difference between the advice and the results, ever doubted your willpower and blamed yourself for your failure to lose weight - READ THIS BOOK.

Bookmarks: 4.5 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0-307-47425-4
Year Published: 2011
Date Finished: 3-16-2018
Pages: 267