Gary Taubes

Gary Taubes is an American science, health and nutrition writer who is renowned for his book Why We Get Fat: And what to do About It. His best-selling works have explored the link between diet and chronic diseases like coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity. Taubes is an advocate for a low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diet and its benefits on health.

Taubes was born in New York City. He initially studied physics at Harvard University, where he earned a bachelors degree in Physics. After graduating he gained interest in science journalism and began writing for Science 80 magazine and Discover magazine. He won the Science Writing Award from the American Institute of Physics in 1979 and 1983 for his contributions to the magazine. Taubes went on to become a freelance journalist for various newspapers and magazines.

Taubes’ books and articles have been hailed for their groundbreaking research and for challenging food ideologies of the past. His first book Good Calories Bad Calories which was released in 2007, contests the conventional nutritional wisdom. The book claims fat is not the cause of the current obesity epidemic, instead the primary culprit is a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar. Taubes suggests doing away with processed foods, grains and sugars to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In 2011, Taubes released Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It. In this book he follows up on the underlying health problems with sugar as the main culprit and links it to chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Taubes explored the possibilities of using low-carb diets and the ketogenic diet to help fight chronic diseases.

Taubes' latest book The Case For Keto, released in 2020, examines the importance of controlling blood sugar levels to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He discusses the importance of carbohydrates in our diet, which is believed to be the root cause of chronic illnesses. He goes further to highlight the medical benefits of a ketogenic diet.

Beyond his research in books, Taubes has given lectures and seminars worldwide to spread awareness of the ketogenic diet. He famously spoke at the American Society of Nutrition conference in 2013, where he discussed the low-carb diet and its potential to prevent and reverse diseases.

Taubes has also inspired other authors and thinkers in the field of health. Nutrition specialist Mark Sisson credits Taubes' book Good Calories Bad Calories with shaping his food views on fats and carbs. He credits Taubes for debunking the “eat less, move more” message and replacing it with the “eat real food” approach.

Gary Taubes has become one of the leading voices for a low-carb and ketogenic diet in recent years. He has published many books, articles and videos advocating for this diet as a viable alternative to treat and prevent chronic diseases. His research and contributions to the field of health and nutrition have earned him international acclaim and recognition, with his books and lectures being great sources for readers to gain insight into the scientific and nutritional facts about low-carb and ketogenic diets.