Gary Taubes

Gary Taubes is an American science writer and author known for his investigative work challenging conventional wisdom on diet, weight control, and chronic disease. He is particularly recognized for his critical examination of the “calories-in/calories-out” model of obesity and his advocacy for low-carbohydrate diets.

Taubes holds a degree in applied physics from Harvard and a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford. He began his career as a journalist, writing for publications like *Science* and *The New York Times Magazine*, where he explored controversial topics in nutrition and public health.

His extensive research led to the publication of several influential books, including *Good Calories, Bad Calories* and *Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It*. In these works, Taubes argues that the overconsumption of easily digestible carbohydrates, rather than simply eating too much, is a primary driver of fat accumulation and related health problems like heart disease and diabetes. He emphasizes the role of hormones, particularly insulin, in regulating fat metabolism and challenges the prevailing dietary guidelines that promote low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets.

Taubes’s work has sparked considerable debate within the scientific and medical communities. While his ideas have gained a following among individuals who have found success with low-carb diets, they have also faced criticism from those who adhere to more traditional views on nutrition and weight management. Taubes continues to write and lecture on the science of nutrition and obesity, seeking to promote a more informed and critical approach to public health recommendations.