Fat Chance by Robert Lustig

Anyone even mildly interested in food and nutrition probably saw the 80 minute YouTube video, called “Sugar: The Bitter Truth,” given by Robert Lustig which has been around for about five years. This book came out in 2013, but will likely enjoy a resurgence because of the recently released documentary called Fed Up, produced by Katie Couric and featuring Lustig among many other scientists and physicians who are sounding the alarm on the standard American diet.

As a wannabe nutritionist, I admit to being somewhat of a glutton for books on food and nutrition. The dogma in this field is changing rapidly, and this book is packed with up to date and verifiable facts.  Lustig has a unique and highly informed perspective on both the history and the science of the nutritional advice we have been following as a nation, and have begun to export worldwide, to the detriment of the whole human race. Shockingly, he reports that more people now suffer from the ill effects of obesity and diabetes than suffer from malnutrition.

The first nine chapters are fairly technical, although he does a good job of translating microbiology and biochemistry into everyday language, to the extent that that’s possible. If the science is a deal breaker for you, begin at Chapter 10 and read to the end. The utterly fascinating and highly practical information contained therein might well convince you to go back and muddle through the scientific explanations.

One of my very favorite aspects of this book is that he states over and over, “Correlation is not causation.” The confusion in the mind of the public over this relatively simple concept results in a great deal of misguided leaping to erroneous conclusions. I cannot think of a single person or category of persons who would not benefit from a thorough reading of this book. If you’re not inclined to read it, you might want to hang out with folks who have so you can pick up a few life saving tips!