Hey it’s Jax, your glow-up guide and midlife wellness bestie. Today, I want to talk about a book that changed the game for me when it comes to weight loss, hormones, and how we really get healthy in midlife, The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung.
This isn’t another “eat less, move more” lecture. Oh no. This book busted myths, blew my mind, and gave me tools that actually made sense—especially as a woman in her 40s dealing with hormones, insulin resistance, and a lifetime of diet culture lies.
Let me hit you with the first truth bomb:
“Obesity is not a calorie imbalance. It’s a hormonal imbalance.”
Dr. Fung dives deep into the science of why we gain weight, and more importantly, why it’s so hard to lose it. Spoiler: it’s not your fault. It’s not about willpower. It’s about insulin, the master hormone behind fat storage. And once I understood that? Everything shifted.
So let’s break this down, bestie-style.
Right from the jump, Dr. Fung sets the tone: the traditional weight loss advice is broken. We’ve been told to eat less and exercise more, but for most of us, that leads to yo-yo diets, hunger, frustration, and metabolic damage.
Instead, The Obesity Code argues that weight gain is driven by chronic insulin elevation, and the real fix isn’t about eating less…it’s about managing insulin through when and what we eat.
He calls out Big Food, Big Pharma, and the flawed science that led us here. And honestly? I felt seen.
We’ve all been taught that losing weight is a simple math problem: burn more calories than you eat. But Dr. Fung shows why that’s wrong.
• Our bodies adapt to eating less by slowing our metabolism.
• Not all calories are equal, 100 calories of broccoli doesn’t affect your hormones the same way as 100 calories of cookies.
• Weight gain is regulated by hormones, especially insulin.
He explains it beautifully with real-world examples and scientific clarity that doesn’t feel overwhelming. It’s like having a doctor break it all down over coffee.
Here’s where things get juicy. Dr. Fung explains how insulin works like a fat-storage switch. When it’s high, your body stores fat. When it’s low, your body burns fat.
But today’s constant eating—snacking, grazing, sugar in everything—keeps insulin levels chronically elevated.
And what raises insulin most?
• Sugar (especially fructose)
• Refined carbs (bread, pasta, cereal)
• Frequent eating (even healthy snacks!)
• Stress and poor sleep
This blew my mind. I always thought I was eating “healthy,” but I was spiking my insulin all day long without knowing it.
Fung is a huge advocate of intermittent fasting (IF)—and this part made me feel so hopeful.
Why IF works:
• It naturally lowers insulin levels.
• It gives your body time to access fat stores.
• It resets your hunger hormones.
• It’s not about deprivation, it’s about when you eat.
He outlines different types of fasting, from 12-hour to 24- or 36-hour fasts, and shares real stories from patients who reversed obesity and Type 2 diabetes. It felt empowering, not scary.
And for us midlife women? He talks about how fasting can help with insulin resistance, menopause belly fat, and stubborn weight that no calorie-counting can touch.
Here’s his step-by-step approach to fixing insulin resistance and losing weight sustainably:
1. Reduce added sugars
Especially fructose and sweetened drinks.
2. Cut back on refined carbs
Think bread, pasta, white rice, cereal.
3. Increase healthy fats and fiber
They keep you full and don’t spike insulin.
4. Incorporate intermittent fasting
Start slow—maybe a 12:12 or 16:8 schedule.
5. Avoid snacking between meals
This was huge for me. Snacking keeps insulin up.
These aren’t radical ideas, they’re sustainable lifestyle shifts that help your body work the way it was meant to.
Here’s what stood out to me as a woman in her 40s:
• 💡 It validated my experience, why I struggled even when I “did everything right.”
• 💥 It shattered toxic diet culture myths and explained the science simply.
• 🧠 It gave me confidence to try intermittent fasting (and it worked for me!).
• 💪 It made me feel powerful, not broken.
If you’re ready to apply the wisdom, here are my fave takeaways:
1. Stop fearing fat. Healthy fats don’t spike insulin, embrace olive oil, nuts, avocados.
2. Fasting isn’t starvation, it’s healing. Try a 14–16 hour fast and ease into it.
3. Stop snacking. It’s not about willpower, it’s about giving insulin a break.
4. Eat real food. Ditch ultra-processed stuff and cook at home.
5. Heal your metabolism. It’s not broken, it’s just been confused.
Dr. Jason Fung doesn’t sell quick fixes. He offers freedom from the guilt, shame, and endless dieting so many of us have lived with. The Obesity Code helped me see my body as smart, not broken. And for that, I’ll forever be grateful.
If you’re a woman over 40 trying to lose weight, balance hormones, or just stop feeling like a failure around food, this book will wake you up in the best way.
You don’t have to be stuck. You don’t have to starve. You just need a new code.
💥 Pro tip: Listen to the audiobook while walking, it’s the perfect mindset boost for your hot girl walk.
Sending you love, hope, and blood sugar balance,
—Jax
