Dr. Jason Fung: Fasting as a Therapeutic Option for Weight Loss

Dr. Jason Fung, MD, is a nephrologist and expert in the use of intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate diets for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. In this presentation, delivered on Aug. 2, 2018, at the 2018 CrossFit Health Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, Fung shares his first-hand experiences with “The Mess” and discusses how he shifted his research and medical practices as a result of those experiences.

Fung’s objectives for his presentation include:
1. Understanding why long-term weight loss is so difficult.
2. Introducing the concept of therapeutic fasting.
3. Understanding some myths and misunderstandings associated with the fasting process.

He recalls treating obese and diabetic patients with traditional methods, which included what he characterizes as poor dietary recommendations and a slurry of drugs. He explains, “It became obvious that I’m just sort of holding their hand until they get their heart attack, until they get dialysis, until they go blind, until we chop their feet off.”

“It’s really sad to realize that the profession that you’ve chosen is not really helping people,” he says. This realization compelled him to diagnose the problems associated with traditional care and seek alternative treatment methods for his patients.

Fung historicizes what he calls “the modern eating pattern,” which emerged in 1977 in the U.S. with the development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. He notes the 1977 guidelines led to the consumption of more grains and sugars, which in turn led to people “eating often, eating late, and eating all the time.”

Incidences of obesity and Type 2 diabetes reached epidemic levels, and the most common treatments long have been drug interventions. Unfortunately, the prevailing non-pharmaceutical prescription — to eat less and move more — has a 99.9% failure rate. Fung observes that popular wisdom tells us to blame the patient and assume he or she did not adhere to the prescription. He claims a basic understanding of metabolism suggests otherwise, however.

Fung explains why a significant reduction in caloric intake leads to a decrease in basal metabolism. This biological inevitability is ignored by the proponents of the “calories in, calories out” fallacy, he observes.

He also explains why intermittent fasting is an effective alternative to traditional treatments for obesity and diabetes. The modern eating pattern keeps our insulin levels high all the time as we eat over long durations, and when insulin remains high all the time, Fung explains, our bodies store food energy as fat, and we remain hungry.

Intermittent fasting, on the other hand, allows insulin levels to drop, which puts us in burning mode rather than storing mode.

Fung claims his recommendations are so effective that patients no longer need to say, “Oh wow, I have to go see my doctor to see what pill I need,” or, “I need to go see my doctor to see if he needs to stick a stent in me.” Instead, Fung explains, “We’re giving you the power to take back your own health, because you’re not gonna get it from anywhere else.”

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[olefella]

Eat one healthy meal a day, do exercise, take vitamin tabs and sleep well.
That's what I've done and it's my 90th birthday next week. 😊 😊

[GTSN]

Have you ever noticed when you go to bed hungry you wake up feeling fine, but go to bed after eating a giant meal and you wake up starving ?

[AlexanderCheney]

This man honestly saved my life. I'm down 137 pounds so far.

[eliottpadilla]

So true "there is no money in it, so no one promotes fasting"

[cur_marie]

Lord please protect this man at all cost.

[Arrian]

I fast (one main meal a day) for 4 days per week. After 20 weeks - I have the body that I had at 19 at 50 years of age. People like Dr Fung are a godsend.

[lizbeth-]

I always listen to this whenever I am fasting. Keeps me motivated 😅

[jimbo]

On a 96 hour fast now. On hour 71, just 25 hours to go. One way I find you get me thru long fast is to watch videos about how fasting is good for me. Thanks for the video.

[ashleyjennings]

When your a kid, you think adults have their shit together, when your an adult, you realize no one has their shit together.... So true!

[giorgioscappini]

I am a retired MD, past 70. Throughout my life I held a valid license to practice medicine in the US, UK and Italy. What Dr. Fung is saying makes a lot of sense and he is proving it with excellent documentation even though it is still considered a “ theory “. I am neither fat nor diabetic, I cannot offer any personal testimonial, but I am convinced to the point that I started OMAD myself as a lifestyle.
I wish we knew better when I went to Medical School or even later as I practiced medicine as an internist. Type II diabetes and obesity are not chronic diseases and can be CURED! It is amazing news which should be widely publicized! I wish the conference room was packed solid!
Thanks for Your work for humanity Dr. Fung!

[jameswatkins]

This lecture should be mandatory for all doctors in the US. Probably in the world.

[janicelloyd]

This works, I had never considered fasting for type 2 diabetes. It works.😊😊😊 I’m 73, diabetic for 25 years on maximum dose of oral meds plus insulin, I have been doing keto plus fasting, plus Omad, for a year, now off insulin and halved my oral med. That’s a slower response than with younger people. But I’m slowly getting better. 👍👍👍 Thank you Dr.Fung, you are saving lives.

[kerrylattimore]

I'm binge watching Fung videos while fasting.

[beverlyboo]

I've been intermittent fasting for over 25 years and my health is outstanding. No medications and no health issues. I'm 54!

[JesusLovesYouSoMuch]

“Because that’s what body fat is for, it’s for you to use when you have nothing to eat. It’s not there for looks” 😭😭😭 oh I love Dr. Fung!

[mmariankaa]

Love his ability to speak and make things simple.
Love his modesty.
Love his knowledge.
Love his humor and metaphors.
He rocks!

[guidedbygracehealthcoaching]

Fasting (7 day water fast) also helped me process my grief. It allowed me to overcome the physiological, psychological and spiritual challenges related to that event. Fasting is a very powerful tool for health and healing in general.

[Saranne]

“We’re giving you the power to take control of your own health because you’re not going to get it anywhere else”.

[juancarlosvalquiyohann]

Why is nobody talking about the fact that this dude just gave a spotless lecture for 1 hour straight. I wish I had that skill.

[attatawil]

I think it’s really cool that he just puts it all out there, he doesn’t play that game where he keeps describing the problem for like an hour and then at the end try to sell you his book or seminars with the answer
He’s not a huckster he’s a teacher