QUOTE from Dr Fung (emphasis mine):
“The same approach is necessary to address the multidimensional problem of obesity. Instead of targeting a single point in the obesity cascade, we need multiple targets and treatments. We don’t need to choose sides. Rather than compare a dietary strategy of, say, low calorie versus low carb, why not do both? There is no reason we can’t. It is also important to tailor the approach individually to address the cause of the high insulin levels. For example, if chronic sleep deprivation is the main problem causing weight gain, then decreasing refined grains is not likely to help. If excessive sugar intake is the problem, then mindfulness meditation is not going to be especially useful. Obesity is a hormonal disorder of fat regulation. Insulin is the major hormone that drives weight gain, so the rational therapy is to lower insulin levels. There are multiple ways to achieve this, and we should take advantage of each one. In the rest of this chapter, I will outline a step-by-step approach to accomplish this goal.”
NOTE (my commentary):
Obesity has multiple causes and multiple treatment paths. Unhelpful journalism often poses them in competition with each other to arouse reader interest and create a conflict. Successful treatment is rarely “either/or” and is often “both/and” – a confluence of causes will often require a combination of treatments.
Insulin is the major hormone that drives weight gain, so the rational therapy is to lower insulin levels.
Still, as insulin converts sugar to fat inside the body, the role of insulin is not minimal and needs my focus.
It is also important to tailor the approach individually to address the cause of the high insulin levels.
STRATEGY: I need to focus on what insulin does within my body because “Insulin is the major hormone that drives weight gain.” Insulin is the switch that causes weight gain.
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
What gets my attention?
Do I understand the need or problem?
Do I understand the potential solution?
Do I understand how to apply that strategy?
What questions do I have for the experts? What might be the answers?
Who needs to hear this?
What do I do next?
SOURCE – Footnotes:
[1] “The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss” by Dr. Jason Fung, Timothy Noakes – Page 219.
Image: On-Off Switch.jpg From Wikimedia Commons
Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.
Key: Fung01-16.49 Shipped: 05/04/2021. Review: 01/11/2022.