AI Doesn’t Understand Our Obesity Epidemic
As a family physician with an interest in our overall health, I tend to be a people-watcher, and everywhere I go in the United States and other developed countries, folks seem to be getting bigger and more obese. Approximately 70% of people in developed countries are now considered overweight or obese, and this trend is a relatively recent development over the past 70 years or so. What the heck is going on? Like any other modern inquisitive scientist, I asked AI about this paradox, and this is the response:
People gain weight when they consume more calories than their bodies burn. However, rising obesity rates are a systemic issue caused by an environment that promotes overeating and physical inactivity, rather than just a lack of personal willpower.
Several major, interconnected factors drive the rapid increase in obesity:
Highly Processed Foods: Modern diets are packed with ultra-processed, calorie-dense foods that are engineered to be hyper-palatable. Ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and added fats are inexpensive, widely available, and trigger hormonal responses that encourage the body to store fat.
Decreased Physical Activity: Modern life is increasingly sedentary. According to PublicHealth.org, only about 20% of modern jobs require moderate physical activity compared to 50% in 1960. People also walk less and rely heavily on cars and automation.
Biological and Genetic Factors: Experts from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health note that genetics heavily influence metabolism, fat distribution, and how the body regulates appetite. Additionally, chronic stress, poor sleep, and certain medications can disrupt hormone levels (such as insulin) and metabolic rates.
Economic and Social Realities: Convenience foods and fast food are often more affordable and accessible than fresh, whole foods, which contributes significantly to weight gain, particularly in lower-income areas.
Clearly AI Doesn’t Know Everything
I have spent decades trying to unravel this paradox, and I believe AI got some things right. Still, the above answer seems a bit convoluted and complex. For example, I agree ultra-processed food plays a key role in driving obesity. Still, it’s not about calories or lack of exercise. Allow me to explain. Over many decades of treating folks with excess body fat or obesity, I came up with a new disease model to explain this epidemic. I call this disease Carbohydrate Associated Reversible Brain syndrome or CARB syndrome. The disease is triggered by the neurotoxic effects of ultra-processed food on brain function, pushing the body to store excess fat at just about any level of caloric intake. After all, the brain controls everything in your body, including fat storage. Many so-called thin or trim people have excess body fat and CARB syndrome. Still, you must measure their body composition to see it, because their BMI is low or normal. BMI doesn’t tell you anything about a person’s body fat.
Ultra-processed Food Can Drain Your Brain
What’s even more interesting is that folks with CARB syndrome end up with depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. This leads to up to 22 brain dysfunction symptoms that overlap with traditional brain disorders, creating massive diagnostic and therapeutic confusion. For example, major depression (MDD) has been around since the dawn of humankind. It’s always associated with loss of appetite and weight loss, and it’s always been quite rare. Most folks today diagnosed with depression have an increased appetite and weight gain. The geniuses at DSM didn’t quite know what to do with this dilemma, so they decided to call this form “atypical depression”. I have news for you—atypical depression is CARB syndrome, and it has no relationship with major depression! If you treat it with SSRI-type medications, folks get worse over time rather than better.
To Tired to Trot
The experts also got the exercise issue the wrong way around. People with CARB syndrome tend not to exercise because of the extreme fatigue associated with their disease. If you effectively treat their CARB syndrome and their fatigue abates, they naturally start to move more, and exercise becomes much easier. Fix the brain and exercise will once again be your friend!
A Plan to Regain Your Brain and Metabolic Health
If you seem to be storing excess body fat and have any of the 22 symptoms of CARB syndrome, especially excess hunger and cravings for sweet and starchy food, you need treatment for CARB syndrome. Because the medical and scientific communities missed this disease, you’re on your own because your physician doesn’t currently know about this disease. Fortunately, if you follow my recommendations, you can turn the ship around:
· Eliminate ultra-processed foods, high-glycemic carbohydrates, excessive sugar, and omega-6 fatty acids from your diet, and consume a sensible amount of whole foods.
· Keep your fructose intake below 25 grams daily as recommended by my medical school friend Richard Johnson.
· Take targeted supplements to boost neurotransmitter levels and support healthy brain function. The one I recommend is CARB-22.
· Exercise your body and mind. This includes regular physical exercise, mental challenges through learning new things, and meditation.
· Get plenty of restful sleep, around 8 hours per night. Avoid getting too little or too much sleep.
· Maintain as many healthy relationships as possible to enhance your social life.
· Minimize inflammation by consuming sufficient amounts of high-quality omega-3 fatty acids and limiting seed oil intake to maintain an AA/EPA ratio of 1:3. I recommend OmegaRx by Barry Sears.
· Spend some time on Patrick Holford’s “Food for the Brain” website. We agree on diet and brain health.
When you follow my plan, you will slowly lose excess body fat without traditional dieting, and your brain dysfunction symptoms will gradually fade. What could be better than that? If you follow my plan, let me know how it works out for you, as I love helping people to optimize their brain function and metabolic health!