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Diet, Drugs and Dopamine

The new science of achieving a healthy weight

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Diet, Drugs and Dopamine

By: David A. Kessler MD
Narrated by: David A. Kessler MD
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Buy Now for £17.94

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About this listen

 "Weaving personal stories with superbly accessible science, this is an important and illuminating book." Chris van Tulleken

More and more of us are struggling with our weight - and as Dr. David Kessler, a physician and former head of the US Food and Drug Administration, shows, it's not our fault. In fact, it's more the wonder that we don't put weight on.
Kessler explains that obesity is not just a disease of the body, but also one of the brain. The problem is the addictiveness of ultra-formulated foods, which change our brain chemistry, creating compulsive cravings and effectively robbing us of the ability to feel full.
As someone who has himself battled with weight, Kessler trials the new class of weight loss drugs and shows that while these drugs can help control appetite, they also pose serious risks.

In this landmark book, he gives us the tools to unplug the brain's addictive wiring and change our relationship with food. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled to maintain a healthy body weight - which is to say, everyone.©2025 David A. Kessler, MD Diets, Nutrition & Healthy Eating Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Weight Loss & Weight Control Nutrition Healthy Diet Mental Health Human Brain Health Medicine
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This is a bit of a sales pitch for diet drugs rather than a science based investigation of food and weight control, which I found disappointing compared to Ultra Processed People. Personally I did not enjoy the narration.

Ok but more about weight than science

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The book helped me to see the struggle of a lifetime with sugars on a different way

Eye opener

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David A. Kessler MD is not the narrator of this book, and only voices a short introduction. I returned it.

Not narrated by the author

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This is a very thought provoking and balanced book highlighting the addictive qualities of ultra formulated food which have taken over the nation's diet and investigating ways to combat this. Unfortunately my narration is not by the author but by an annoying female AI voice which I have only endured because the subject matter is so interesting.

Important content spoilt by the narration

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For those that are interested in this topic, the paper book may be better to understand the science. overall it was an interesting listen, but I had to skip a few chapters halfway as I knew the subject matter, or it was repetitive. In essence, this book is anti-ultra formulated food, pushes healthy eating and attempts to break the cycle of food addiction, as they call it. They mention the new weight loss injections a lot, highlighting the real pitfalls and lack of long term data, as well as acknowledging their benefits.

Interesting topic, in depth science, anti-UPF.

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