If you’ve been struggling with losing weight, you’re not alone. The weight loss industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, but why is it so hard to lose weight and keep it off? According to Dr. Giles Yeo, the world’s leading expert on fat and how to burn it, it’s because we’ve been lied to about calories, dieting, and losing weight.
As we age, it’s common to gain weight, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Dr. Yeo suggests that we understand the limitations and caveats of counting calories. Calories are not accurate, and they don’t tell us anything about the quality of the food we’re eating. For example, a stick of celery may have six calories raw, but once you cook it, those six calories become 31. Instead of focusing on calorie counting, we should focus on what we eat and how we fix obesity.
Dr. Yeo’s book, “Why Calories Don’t Count: What You Eat Does Matter,” challenges the idea that weight loss is simply a matter of consuming fewer calories than you burn. Instead, he suggests that we focus on sustainable weight loss through a simple set of numbers that we can apply to any diet we like.
One of the biggest misconceptions about weight loss is that losing weight is easy, but keeping it off is the hard part. Dr. Yeo explains that our brains hate it when we lose weight because it reduces our chances of survival. When we stop dieting, the weight inevitably comes back. This is why it’s important to find a sustainable way of eating that works for us.
Veganism and plant-based diets have become more popular in recent years, but there are still general stereotypes that need addressing. Some people believe that veganism is a diet for privileged people who can choose to do so. However, Dr. Yeo suggests that we don’t need everyone to be vegan, but we do need to focus on sustainable food choices that work for us and the environment.
Dr. Yeo’s academic journey began with studying genetics and molecular evolution at Cambridge University. He later became interested in the genetics of obesity, specifically severe childhood obesity. His research has since expanded to include all body weights and how our brains influence our feeding behavior.
In addition to his academic research, Dr. Yeo has written two books, “Why Calories Don’t Count” and “Gene Eating,” and has hosted several shows and documentaries for the BBC. He’s also a big fan of food and has explored various diets, including the keto diet and gluten-free diets.
Ultimately, Dr. Yeo’s message is that sustainable weight loss is about making healthy food choices that work for us and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. It’s not about calorie counting or extreme diets, but rather finding a balance that allows us to enjoy food while maintaining a healthy weight.