A deep dive into the most talked about health issue currently facing the world from the bestselling author of The End of Overeating.
'A great read! Really excellent stuff. Kessler brilliantly walks the tightrope between the hype and the criticism around the new weight loss drugs-weaving personal stories with superbly accessible science. An important and illuminating book.' Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People
Almost one in three Australians struggle with obesity and its related health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. It is a health care crisis that affects life expectancy and quality of life, and yet for decades medical bias and societal pressure has left many feeling judged, confused and often left behind.
Now New York Times bestselling author and former US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr David A. Kessler urges us to see obesity in a new light. In Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine, he shares new evidence that obesity is not only a phenomenon of the body, but one that starts in the brain.
In this groundbreaking book, Kessler-a lifelong public health advocate-explains how processed food has changed our brain chemistry, creating both an addiction to highly rewarding foods and compulsive cravings that cause us to eat more. But this change doesn't have to be permanent. Illuminating cutting-edge research on the many factors that influence weight-from neuroscience to nutrition-Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine explains why maintaining weight loss is almost insurmountably difficult and what we can learn from addiction science and eating-disorder-recovery protocols to forge a new way forward.
Kessler offers a clear-eyed view of the recent, much-publicised pharmaceuticals promoted as a solution to obesity and a critical examination of this new class of drugs. While these drugs will offer a panacea to some, they also carry serious and potentially long-term risks that must be seriously investigated before we regard them as a sustainable option.
Eye-opening, provocative, and empowering, this book is a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled to maintain their body weight-which is to say, everyone.
PRAISE-
'Who could be better suited and more trustworthy than former FDA commissioner Dr. David A. Kessler to doggedly sort through the scientific evidence, cut through the hype, and bring us to a better understanding of our own body weight? Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine is eye-opening, beautifully crafted, full of practical insights, and a great read.' Abraham Verghese, New York Times bestselling author of The Covenant of Water
'Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine is a tour de force and reflects a clarity of thinking on many controversial issues from food restricting to intuitive eating, body positivity to toxic fat, and GLP-1 agonists as a possible revolutionary tool to combat obesity. There's even a section on menopause! This book is the definitive scientific source on food addiction." Anna Lembke, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation
'A brilliant and incisive examination of one of our country's most vexing health challenges. Dr. Kessler's sharp scientific analysis cuts through the fog of confusion surrounding weight loss and offers a practical, sustainable pathway to better health. It is no surprise he is one of the great medical and public health leaders of our time.' Vivek H. Murthy, MD, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States and New York Times bestselling author of Together
About the Author
David A. Kessler, M.D., served as commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration under presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He is a paediatrician and has been the dean of the medical schools at Yale and the University of California. He is the father of two and lives with his wife in Washington, DC.
Industry Reviews
‘A great read! Really excellent stuff. Kessler brilliantly walks the tightrope between the hype and the criticism around the new weight loss drugs—weaving personal stories with superbly accessible science. An important and illuminating book.’ - Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People
‘Who could be better suited and more trustworthy than former FDA commissioner Dr. David A. Kessler to doggedly sort through the scientific evidence, cut through the hype, and bring us to a better understanding of our own body weight? Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine is eye-opening, beautifully crafted, full of practical insights, and a great read.’ - Abraham Verghese, New York Times bestselling author of The Covenant of Water
‘A brilliant and incisive examination of one of our country's most vexing health challenges. Dr. Kessler's sharp scientific analysis cuts through the fog of confusion surrounding weight loss and offers a practical, sustainable pathway to better health. It is no surprise he is one of the great medical and public health leaders of our time.’ - Vivek H. Murthy, MD, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States and New York Times bestselling author of Together
‘Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine is a tour de force and reflects a clarity of thinking on many controversial issues from food restricting to intuitive eating, body positivity to toxic fat, and GLP-1 agonists as a possible revolutionary tool to combat obesity. There’s even a section on menopause! This book is the definitive scientific source on food addiction.’ - Anna Lembke, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation
‘Dr. Kessler forensically dissects the weighty topic of obesity for all to understand. This is fascinating and essential reading for all.’ - VADM (Ret) Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States
‘A beautifully rendered and illuminating exploration of the disease of obesity that will change not only how we understand our health but also how we understand one another.’ - Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor of All Maladies
