Fat Loss Is Not About Calories – The Shocking Insulin and Hunger Truth with Dr. Jason Fung | #1264

Mar 2, 2026

Dr. Jason Fung, nephrologist and author known for work on insulin, fasting, and reversing metabolic disease. He argues obesity and type 2 diabetes are hormonal, not calorie, problems. Short takes on insulin’s role in fat storage, the fat thermostat, why hunger—not willpower—drives overeating, and the three types of hunger shaping behavior.

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ANECDOTE

Teen Son Shows Calories Can Be Burned

Jason Fung contrasts his teenage son eating ~5,000 calories while staying lean due to high energy use.
He contrasts 800 kcal of cookies (spikes insulin, low satiety) with 800 kcal of salmon (low insulin, high satiety) to illustrate hormonal effects.

ADVICE

Test And Lower Insulin Early

Lower insulin to treat insulin resistance by reducing refined carbohydrates and using ketogenic diets or intermittent fasting.
Jason Fung recommends checking fasting insulin or fasting C-peptide to detect hyperinsulinemia early and intervene before diabetes develops.

INSIGHT

The Body Has A Fat Thermostat

Body fat is regulated by a fat thermostat that adjusts metabolism up or down when weight changes.
Force-feeding studies show metabolism rises when fat increases and drops ~400–500 kcal when fat is lost, explaining diet failures.

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What if the reason fat loss feels impossible is not willpower, not discipline, and not “eat less, move more” but your hormones, your hunger, and your body’s fat thermostat?

In this episode of The Ben Azadi Show, Ben welcomes back Dr. Jason Fung to break down why most weight loss advice fails long term and why obesity and type 2 diabetes are not calorie problems, they are hormonal problems. Dr. Fung explains how insulin acts as a fat storage signal, why fasting insulin and C-peptide can reveal metabolic dysfunction years before A1c rises, and how hunger is the real problem behind overeating. He also introduces key ideas from his new book, The Hunger Code, including the fat thermostat, the “three whys,” and the three types of hunger: physical, emotional, and conditioned. You will walk away with a clearer framework for sustainable fat loss that works with human physiology instead of fighting it.

Key Topics Covered

Why “eat less, move more” has an extremely high long-term failure rate
Calories vs hormones: why the body can store or burn the same calories differently
Insulin’s role in fat storage and fat burning shutdown
Insulin resistance as “overflow,” not “under-fuel”
Why fasting insulin and C-peptide matter earlier than A1c
The fat thermostat concept and why metabolism adapts fast
Hunger hormones and satiety signals (including GLP-1 related discussion)
The “three whys” framework for getting to the root cause of weight gain
The 3 types of hunger: homeostatic, hedonic, and conditioned hunger
Why ultra-processed foods reshape hunger and behavior
Why low insulin matters more than “low carb” for many people
How environment and community influence obesity risk and habits

Resources & Special Offer

Dr. Jason Fung
Website: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/

Book: The Hunger Code (Release Date: March 3)
Pre-order the book through Dr. Jason Fung’s website to receive exclusive bonuses, including a free masterclass and additional resources.

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