A growing body of research is challenging traditional beliefs about obesity and Type 2 diabetes, with experts claiming intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate diets may reverse the disease without medication.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES NEWS
Canadian nephrologist Jason Fung has sparked renewed debate after arguing that obesity and Type 2 diabetes are driven more by hormones than calorie intake alone.
In a recent discussion, Fung criticized the decades-old “calories in, calories out” model, saying it has failed millions struggling with weight loss and metabolic disease.
According to Fung, insulin plays a central role in fat storage and weight gain. He explained that highly processed carbohydrates trigger insulin spikes, causing the body to store energy as fat while increasing hunger shortly afterward.
“Obesity is not about lack of willpower,” Fung said, comparing overeating to addiction rather than simple overeating.
The physician highlighted research by British doctor David Unwin, which found that nearly 50 percent of patients with Type 2 diabetes achieved drug-free remission after adopting low-carbohydrate diets and intermittent fasting.
Fung argued that intermittent fasting lowers insulin levels, allowing the body to access stored fat for energy without slowing metabolism. He also rejected fears about “starvation mode,” citing studies showing metabolic rates can remain stable or even increase during fasting periods.
The report also pointed to the rise of ultra-processed foods and constant snacking as key contributors to obesity. Fung noted that people once ate three meals a day without snacks, while modern eating habits often involve five to six meals daily.
He further claimed that medications such as Ozempic support the hormonal theory of weight loss because they reduce hunger rather than directly burn calories.
Fung recommended practical lifestyle changes, including reducing refined carbohydrates, increasing fiber intake, eliminating frequent snacking, and extending overnight fasting windows to improve metabolic health.
The discussion has gained widespread attention online as obesity and Type 2 diabetes rates continue rising globally, fueling interest in non-pharmaceutical approaches to weight management and disease reversal.
