Why We Get Fat audiobook cover - And What to Do About It

Why We Get Fat

And What to Do About It

Gary Taubes

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Health & Nutrition

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Why We Get Fat
Flawed Explanations for Obesity+
The Real Cause: Carbs & Insulin+
Why Conventional Diets Fail+
The Low-Carb Solution+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to the book, why is the 'calories in, calories out' model of weight gain considered a flawed oversimplification?
  • A. It fails to account for the fact that overweight people naturally have slower metabolisms.
  • B. It ignores the complex hormonal processes within the body and fails to explain why people consume more calories than they need.
  • C. It doesn't factor in the amount of water weight a person retains from eating salty foods.
  • D. It assumes that carbohydrates are the only source of energy the human body can utilize.
Question 2 of 8
How does the author explain the lethargy often associated with overweight individuals?
  • A. It is a psychological defense mechanism against societal fat-shaming and judgment.
  • B. It is caused by a fundamental lack of willpower and a preference for sedentary activities.
  • C. It is a symptom of a hormonal imbalance where growing fat cells drain energy, similar to a child going through a growth spurt.
  • D. It is the direct result of carrying excess physical weight, which exhausts the muscles more quickly.
Question 3 of 8
What is the primary biological mechanism that drives the accumulation of fat in the human body?
  • A. Dietary fat is directly absorbed into the bloodstream and stored in fat cells.
  • B. A lack of physical exercise prevents the liver from metabolizing glucose properly.
  • C. Consuming too many calories causes the stomach to stretch, releasing hunger hormones.
  • D. Carbohydrates trigger the release of insulin, which stimulates fatty tissue to store excess energy.
Question 4 of 8
The author compares the process of getting fat to the growth of a tumor or a child to illustrate what specific point?
  • A. Being overweight is the consequence of a biological growth process, meaning growing fat cells cause increased hunger, not the other way around.
  • B. Obesity is a genetic mutation that can potentially be cured with targeted radiation therapy.
  • C. Children and overweight adults require the exact same amount of daily calories to maintain their physical size.
  • D. Overeating directly fuels the rapid multiplication of cells in the human body.
Question 5 of 8
Why does the author argue that human bodies cannot properly process the modern carbohydrate-heavy diet?
  • A. Modern carbohydrates are heavily sprayed with pesticides that disrupt our endocrine system.
  • B. Carbohydrates are a relatively new addition to the human diet, meaning we haven't had enough evolutionary time to genetically adapt to them.
  • C. The human digestive tract has physically shrunk over the last 2.5 million years.
  • D. Hunter-gatherer societies possessed a specific enzyme to digest flour that modern humans have lost.
Question 6 of 8
According to the 1990s US study mentioned in the text, what was the primary result of 20,000 women reducing their daily caloric intake by 360 calories over eight years?
  • A. They successfully maintained their target weight without experiencing the yo-yo effect.
  • B. They experienced a significant reduction in heart disease but a sharp increase in diabetes.
  • C. They lost an average of twenty pounds but suffered from severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
  • D. They lost an average of only two pounds, mostly consisting of muscle mass rather than fat.
Question 7 of 8
Based on the book's claims, why do people generally become more prone to being overweight as they age?
  • A. Older adults naturally consume higher quantities of carbohydrates than younger people.
  • B. Years of generating high insulin levels make the musculature more insulin-resistant, causing the body to pump more insulin and advance fat cell growth.
  • C. The body's metabolism completely stops processing dietary fats after a certain age.
  • D. Older individuals lack the physical ability to exercise, leading to an immediate surplus of unburned calories.
Question 8 of 8
While the author advises against eating most carbohydrates, which type of carbohydrate is considered less harmful to blood sugar and insulin levels?
  • A. Carbohydrates found in whole-grain breads and cereals.
  • B. Carbohydrates from starchy foods like potatoes and rice.
  • C. Carbohydrates contained in vegetables that are linked to indigestible fibers.
  • D. Carbohydrates from natural fruit juices and smoothies.

Why We Get Fat — Full Chapter Overview

Why We Get Fat Summary & Overview

Why We Get Fat (2010) explains why certain types of carbohydrates are the main reason we get fat. The book not only shows why people gain weight, but why the topic is so controversial. It also talks about why some people get fat and others do not, the role genetic predispositions play in this process, and which foods we should all avoid. 

Who Should Listen to Why We Get Fat?

  • Anyone who wants to lose or maintain their weight
  • Anyone interested in finding out about the causes of being overweight

About the Author: Gary Taubes

Gary Taubes (b. 1956) is an American science journalist. In his books, he discusses scientific controversies and offers his readers clear insights into complex subject areas. Most recently he has attracted attention for his critical view of the nutrition science establishment. 

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