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  • The Obesity Code

  • Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
  • Written by: Dr. Jason Fung
  • Narrated by: Brian Nishii
  • Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (604 ratings)

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The Obesity Code

Written by: Dr. Jason Fung
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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Publisher's Summary

Everything you believe about how to lose weight is wrong. Weight gain and obesity are driven by hormones - in everyone - and only by understanding the effects of insulin and insulin resistance can we achieve lasting weight loss.

In this highly listenable and provocative book, Dr. Jason Fung sets out an original, robust theory of obesity that provides startling insights into proper nutrition. In addition to his five basic steps - a set of lifelong habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels - Dr. Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight - for good.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Jason Fung (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Obesity Code

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    3 out of 5 stars

informative, repetitive, annoying narrator

My mother-in-law bought the print version of this book, so I used a credit on the audio to "read" along with her. I have been interested in low carb eating for a long time, and Dr. Fung seems generally to support that approach. He disproves the calories in, calories out belief, shows the importance of most animal based fats, and points out that most diets have more in common than not. All diets are all underpinned by the same sorts of good advice like cutting out sugar, reducing carbs, etc. Fung goes beyond Atkins, keto, etc., and proposes regular fasting as the key to managing weight -- a compelling proposal in the context of an overall diet and lifestyle change.

Even though I found the book helpful and interesting, I wish I had sped it up sooner. Fung's writing very repetitive, referencing the same studies over and over. the way he cites and explains each study made me wonder if either this was a collection of essays or whether the supporting research is so sparse that he had to inflate his info to fill space and make him sound scholarly. I came to this book already convinced, bwas concerned with the lack of breadth. The repetition and the style of said repetition dilutes the book's appeal.

Then there was the narrator. He made Fung seem arrogant. His delivery made me want to rush through the audio book. I stopped listening for days and weeks at a time because of his voice and delivery!

I'm looking forward to seeing the print book as a reference and am hoping to organize myself and my husband for regular fasting. Our daughter recently introduced fasting into her schedule (not prompted by this book) and is very happy with the results.

24 people found this helpful

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fascinating

Dr. Fung challenges conventional wisdom about weight gain and loss, and develops a robust theory of obesity that is data-driven. I found myself engaging in an internal dialogue as I listened, because of the many "facts" that I've cemented in my brain, which are simply not so. Even accepting the new knowledge, it is difficult to stop mentally defending dieting rhetoric that I've known for so long. There are many interesting facets to this theory. Naturally, each reader will tend to be particularly interested in those which have some personal connection. For me, the information pertaining to abdominal fat, stress/ cortisol, fatty liver, and fasting were the real gems. But overall, there was very little that I found uninteresting. I highly recommend this book, and will be interested to read what others have thought.

11 people found this helpful

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Could have been an article. No secrets here either

I was excited to read this. There were some interesting parts but it dragged on. I feel like I wasted 10 hours of my life. It could easily have been an article.

I was also hoping this book would give me more information that I already found on my own about weight loss with a quick internet search. However, the advice in this book (ex: about eating little sugar and fasting and not being afraid to eat fat) are found everywhere on the internet. At least other books about these topics tell readers what they're about. This book's "secrets" are kept secret for most of the book.

The author says he will not use any animal studies to prove his point. But then he goes on to convince us by often using analogies and saying things just don't make sense.

The PDF file that accompanies the book is pretty useless. It doesn't even have the author's recipe for bone broth; we're expected to listen to the book and write it all down. I was going to do this until I looked it up and found it on the internet. Then I researched bone broth and found it's not actually been found to have many nutrients, and that it can contain toxins such as lead.

At the end of the book you'll realize that if you agree with Dr. Fung's advice you'll probably want to buy other more practical resources to really put the advice into practice.

It's an okay book. It had some good information (that could be found elsewhere). Go ahead and read it if you're really interested but if you want to save yourself 10 hours, you won't be missing out.

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Life Changing!

After trying many diets I thought I knew everything about dieting but didn't have enough will power to make anything work. This book changed all that. I finally feel like have clear idea of what my body is doing when I eat food and I am using that to make the changes I could never achieve in the past! #Audible1

4 people found this helpful

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mind-blowing

this book was recommended to me by a work colleague. I have been wanting to read it for some time and I'm so glad I finally did. wow... just wow!! everyone needs to read this book. it should be in high school health class curriculum.

3 people found this helpful

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Eye opening

This book has been instrumental in my understanding of health and what I eat. A jumping point if you will. Sure it doesn't contain everything you need to know but its a start and does it in a refreshing, story like way. I've since purchased copies for other members of my family, all of which have greatly benefited from its contents. If you're feeling like its time for change, give this book a chance. I'd be willing to bet you'll come out much further ahead than when you started. #Audible1

3 people found this helpful

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The must read of your life for your health.

The most important health, healthy lifestyle book you can find. It has something for every person, whether you are obese or not. A simple, easy to follow and understand explanation and guide to how your body works.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazing!

Loved it. Very informative and lots of useful and surprising information. Well researched as well.

2 people found this helpful

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Very enlightening

This book peels back the layers of weight gain and exposes the myths, legends and misinformation around weight loss. It is filled with useful information. Where to start?

2 people found this helpful

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I own 3 copies.

I have 2 copies of this book in paperback to lend and I have listened to the audio version 4 times. I wish I could get a copy for every single person I know. Life changing for me.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Cynthia
  • 2017-06-27

There is a PDF, Folks

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I keep seeing reviews on Audible stating "it would be nice to have the charts, forms, list, etc. the author keeps referring to". Yes they're included here! Look at your purchase list, and underneath the books that include a pdf you will find a link to click. You can then download reference material for your book. I wish Audible would do a better job showing this! Click on Library, then My books, and then look for the links underneath the book purchased.

1,457 people found this helpful

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  • Maria
  • 2017-03-10

YES!! Finally. The book I've been searching for!!

I am not a doctor, nutritionist or science major. I'm just a middle-age female who has struggled with weight for the past 15 years. I have a genuine interest in biology, epigenetics, nutrition and disease prevention. I have literally read or listened to every single book published out there on those subjects. Some are good, some are bad. And all of them center around this false notion that eating the right amount or specific kinds of various macros are the key to losing weight. Don't get me wrong - some of those diets and eating plans work - in the short term. Once I even lost 30 lbs and found a love of trail running. But every single stinkin' time the weight loss would be only temporary, and it would come back on within months. I was the quintessential yo-yo dieter who people assumed went on ice cream eating binges when I definitely did not. No one ever explained set-point, or the reason why weight comes back. Dr. Fung explains the body's homeostasis so well and with such great analogies that it was like a big, bright lightbulb going off. I'm excited to begin a new journey of sustained weight loss. This time around, instead of cutting out entire food groups or focusing on macros, I bought a blood sugar monitor and will aim to lower my blood sugar and insulin levels by experimenting with the right foods and diet for me. I discovered that Greek Yogurt -- the supposed health food that almost every diet book applauds as being great for weight loss -- spikes my blood sugar (and presumably, my insulin) considerably. But a snack of Ezekiel bread and peanut butter (gasp... actual BREAD?) didn't affect my blood sugar much at all. After years of wondering if tweaking and lowering my calories by another 100 on My Fitness Pal app would help me break my plateau, I finally have real answers. (And for the record, Dr. Fung insists that answer is NO.) The narrator was fabulous, and all around I'm declaring that I don't need to listen to another weight loss book ever again. This is a God-send!

824 people found this helpful

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  • PSBoyte
  • 2017-04-30

We'll see, but .... why is this not common knowledge.

I am morbidly obese and have steadily worked at losing weight. I had a nutritionalist (who wasn't covered under my insurance and I was paying out of pocket) tell me IF I was being honest in my food journal that I should be losing weight. I obeyed the rules....just didn't have the code. My weight is finally going down after years - YEARS- of obesity.

603 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2019-11-21

Waste of money and time

This book is the most padded book I have ever read. It essentially says.: Eat less sugar and refined carbs. Eat less processed food. Drink Apple cider vinegar in water. Exercise is good but doesn't help weight loss. Fat and coffee are good. Fast. There, I saved you 15 dollars and 15 hours of listening to the same things over and over.

422 people found this helpful

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  • Russell
  • 2017-08-14

Compelling Argument about Managing Weight

It was a big surprise that a book on weight loss would inspire me to submit a review. But after a lifetime of hearing about can't miss diet plans that ultimately backfire - sometimes with health consequences, it is nice to hear solid researched arguments that support a diet plan that has already been around for centuries.

Insulin resistance is the villain in our lives that leads to weight gain or a set point weight that puts us in the overweight camp. Caloric reduction, eating small amounts often, the necessity of a large breakfast and many more unsuccessful approaches are not panaceas, and may end of doing more harm than good.

Dr. Fung tells us that fasting is the answer. He busts some of the myths you hear about the dangers of this dieting approach. The one that had my attention was how the muscles were first broken down before fat was used when fasting.

But, don't take my word for it, you need to hear the persuasive evidence based research pleasantly presented to you by a top notch narrator.

Who knew - a diet book - and I was never bored.

204 people found this helpful

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  • Jsmith
  • 2017-07-06

Outstanding

Best book on obesity and fat loss I've ever read. Notice how Fung of not trying to sell you anything? That's how you know that the thesis presented is legit. I've been doing Warrior Diet and OMAD IF for 3 weeks, am down 7lbs, and feel great. This is how I am going to eat for life. Read/listen to this book, it is life-changing.

147 people found this helpful

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  • Michael Carrato
  • 2018-02-18

This book literally saved my life

I stumbled upon this book in July, 2017. At the time I was 370 pounds, T2 diabetic, and miserable. 8 months later I am down 100 pound and my H1C has corrected from 8.7 to 5.4 -- i.e. no longer diabetic. These days I feel amazing all the time, razor sharp mental clarity, improved energy, joints, skin, sleep, mood. I no longer crave foods like before, and 8 months into eating this way I have zero diet fatigue -- in fact, I enjoy eating more than I did before!

Looking back, I find it amazing how bad I was before. And all because of poor eating habits.

Dr. Fung lays out the case for why we are fat and how to regain control of our lives. He describes the science in detail, but also presents it in a way that is accessible to the masses, with plenty of crystal clear analogies. If you are dealing with chronic disease, particularly T2D, fatty liver, or obesity, you MUST read this book and give it a try.

I am now a member of a local Facebook group dedicated to helping people learn and adapt to Fung's approach. Just through word of mouth, this group has grown to 1700 members in a year, and has dozens of posts per day from people who have regained control of their health and their lives. And Fung's plan is the foundation.

138 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2017-01-06

the Bible of weight loss abd diebetes control.

Great book. Very informative. A must for diabetics. Get one for your doctor and make them read it. Insulin drives weight gain, wish I knew this as a kid.

129 people found this helpful

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  • Noah
  • 2017-08-03

Interesting science but.. (spoiler alert)

Any additional comments?

Insulin causes weight gain -- that's the message that the author repeats over and over.
Here's the whole book
- a bunch of evidence that (assuming you agree with the author's interpretation) confirms that insulin causes weight gain
- High level only guidance on what to eat (avoid sugars and overly processed foods)
- To really lose weight, you should fast frequently. This key message of the book is condensed into a few pages (or minutes of listening).

Note: despite the author's love of evidence to dispel previous diet pillars, he provides little to no evidence to support the efficacy of fasting other than the obvious, if you don't eat, you can't spike insulin. He provides no specific strategies on how long and how often you should fast and he doesn't site any studies on the long term benefits of fasting.

115 people found this helpful

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  • A. K.
  • 2017-03-15

Good book, but......

This is a very good book if you want to know the work done on obesity. The narrator is awesome! Very easy to listen to and follow. The problem i have is that I'm not sure about information accuracy. For example, author talks about the women's health initiative and explains the study and the results. However, when I went back to the literature and read the actual study, I found out that the results were the complete opposite to the author's narrative, I'm not sure if I dig deeper would the same hold for other examples.

86 people found this helpful

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  • Stanford K. McCoy
  • 2018-02-22

Weak performance of a good book

Considérez-vous la version audio meilleure que la version papier ?

Inarticulate reading of an articulate and interesting book. When reading a book with a lot of scientific terms, it is important that the performer studies those terms carefully and pronounces them clearly and correctly. Unfortunately this performer appears not to have done enough homework, resulting in distracting mispronunciations and an overall impression of inarticulateness. Having heard the author interviewed on YouTube, I would have vastly preferred to hear this book performed by the author.

Seriez-vous prêt à écouter une nouvelle performance de Brian Nishii ?

No, I was disappointed with the performance.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Pili
  • 2021-01-28

Formidable.

À lire absolument si vous souffrez d'excès de poids ou de résistance à l'insuline. Merci de l'avoir écrit.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Ralfe
  • 2020-12-23

One of the most important books I have read

With a perfect balance of nutrition theory, history of diets, and practical guidance, this is possibly the most important book I have read. Many previously held beliefs have been challenged as a result, and finally obesity and weight gain/loss makes sense. Understanding this in terms of a hormonal homeostasis - rather than the oversimplified, reductionistic frameworks using caloric calculations or making sweeping judgements on one or more macronutrient group - has given me nee hope in improving my own health. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. in addition, it is beautifully and skillfully narrated, making it a pleasure to consume the valuable information.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Eric Bauwelinck
  • 2019-01-06

A convenient truth about body weight management

Although much of what we know about the human body remains to be unfold, the author convinced me that obesity is a hormonal imbalance and not a caloric imbalance as preached by so many physicians and doctors today, almost all influenced by the economy, societal trends and politics like most consumers including myself. This book is a revelation.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Gallma
  • 2020-05-06

necessary

very useful book. should be put in everyone's hand for a better understanding of how our bodies work and how/why dieting never works.

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  • SARAH S.
  • 2019-11-29

very informative and helpful!

the books starts with placing scientific and solid roots and changes your perspective about nutrition and obesity.. i recommend it and the reader is awesome! he expresses every emotion and it is such a pleasure to listen to him!