First published 2016
Conventional wisdom about weight loss gets everything backwards. Sandra Aamodt, a neuroscientist who struggled with yo-yo dieting herself, dismantles the calorie cutting approach that dominates weight loss advice. She reveals why willpower alone fails almost universally in the long term and presents research showing that dieting itself may be more harmful than carrying extra weight. Aamodt examines the obesity epidemic through a scientific lens, exploring new discoveries about gut bacteria and explaining why bariatric surgery succeeds by changing brain function rather than just stomach size. Two thirds of Australian adults are overweight, yet the standard response of eating less and cutting calories ignores what neuroscience tells us about how our brains actually regulate weight. Drawing from both rigorous research and her personal battles with weight cycling, Aamodt offers readers an alternative framework for understanding body weight that moves beyond willpower and shame toward a more scientifically grounded approach.
Genres: science, medical, self-help, non-fiction, health, academic
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, research-based
304 pages · Paperback · Scribe Publications