Second Book Review: Good Reads in Biology

Book Review: The Obesity Code

The Obesity Code by Jason Fung is probably the most interesting book I have read about the effects of modernization on our bodies. In this book, Dr. Fung explains why the obesity epidemic is rampant in developed nations from a biochemical aspect. He explains the defects in modern lifestyles that create an environment within our bodies primed for obesity, cancer, and other diseases. His points are backed up by countless studies he has encountered during his career as a medical professional as well as case studies of patients he works with. 

This book essentially explains the role of insulin on our homeostatic mechanisms. Since human evolution did not occur in a world of abundant food, Dr. Fung explains the internal conflict that rages within our bodies when we constantly eat large amounts of food. He discusses all classes of foods from meats, dairy, and grain to sugar and sweeteners in terms of our bodies hormonal response to each. He challenges many dietary norms, breaking down why conventional diets fail to work and why many foods deemed “healthy” are actually more harmful than one can imagine. He ties all of his points back to evolutionary history as he proposes the concept of fasting as the most simple and obvious solution to our problem. 

This book has influenced my idea of healthy living drastically. After I read this book, I implemented several changes to my lifestyle and was simply amazed at the results I experienced. I have been experimenting with healthy lifestyle decisions for over 5 years and can safely say that Dr. Fung’s proposals have yielded the best results and make the most logical sense. In addition, the practical application of this book is incredible; almost anyone who reads this book will be able to learn something that they can apply to their lives with insane returns on investment. 

The writing style of this book is incredibly simple, informal, and informative. Anyone who has taken an introduction to biology course in high school (or can understand what I discuss in my posts) can read this book. Although the writing style is simple, I do not think that the language has been oversimplified. In fact, I distinctly remember feeling overjoyed when Dr. Fung explained how sweeteners affect insulin levels, something I could not find a decent explanation for before reading this book. 

In conclusion, if you are reading this post, and there have not been any major breakthroughs in metabolic research since I published this, this book must be read. The information in this text can simply change your life for the better. The mental and physical benefits I have experienced from analyzing diet from an insulin perspective cannot be overstated. Hands down a 10/10 book.

Here is an Amazon link (Audible/Hardcopy) to the book if you are interested in learning more.