Jason Fung

Jason Fung is a Canadian nephrologist, author, and weight loss and diabetes expert known for his advocacy of fasting and low-carbohydrate diets as methods to achieve weight loss and improve health. Fung has contributed significantly to the conversation around obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic health, challenging conventional dietary advice and promoting alternative approaches to nutrition and health management.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Jason Fung was born in Toronto, Canada. He pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Toronto, where he studied biology. Fung went on to attend medical school at the same university, earning his MD. Following medical school, he completed his residency in internal medicine and later specialized in nephrology.

Career[edit | edit source]

Fung's medical career has been primarily focused on kidney care, with a particular interest in the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) related to type 2 diabetes. Through his clinical work, Fung became increasingly interested in the role of diet in the management of diabetes and obesity, two major risk factors for CKD.

In addition to his clinical practice, Jason Fung has gained international recognition as an author and speaker on the topics of obesity and diabetes. He advocates for the use of fasting protocols, including intermittent fasting and extended fasting periods, as well as low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets to manage and reverse these conditions. Fung argues that traditional dietary advice focusing on calorie restriction and low-fat diets has failed to address the root causes of obesity and diabetes, promoting instead a hormonal model of obesity that focuses on insulin resistance.

Publications[edit | edit source]

Fung has authored several influential books on diet and health, including:

The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss - This book explores the underlying causes of obesity and proposes dietary strategies for weight loss and health improvement.
The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally - In this book, Fung offers insights into preventing and reversing type 2 diabetes through dietary interventions.
The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting - Co-authored with Jimmy Moore, this guide provides readers with practical advice on implementing fasting for health benefits.

Philosophy and Impact[edit | edit source]

Fung's work has been both influential and controversial. He has been praised for challenging the status quo and offering hope to individuals struggling with obesity and diabetes. However, some medical professionals and dietitians have criticized his emphasis on fasting and dietary fat, arguing that more balanced approaches are necessary.

Despite the controversy, Fung's approach has helped many individuals achieve significant weight loss and health improvements. His advocacy for a deeper understanding of the hormonal basis of obesity and diabetes has contributed to a growing interest in dietary strategies that go beyond simple calorie counting.