In Episode #215, I’m joined by Dr Richard Johnson to discuss obesity, fructose, and metabolic disease.“Fructose” has become something of a fear word in modern diet culture. It is often positioned as the villain, without the in-depth breakdown of where we are sourcing this fructose and the quantities it is consumed in. Similarly, the relationship between health and obesity is hotly contested. Dr Richard Johnson sits down with me today to clarify the scientific relationship between these factors, getting into what the evidence tells us.In this episode, we take a broader view at the history of obesity before honing in on the biology and mechanisms. We discuss the ideology of obesity, whether you can be healthy at any size, and the degree of risk related to where you store fat. We also cover a variety of animal studies, sources of fructose, and how the modern food environment shapes our body weight.Specifically, we discuss:0:00 Intro2:30 History of Obesity10:36 Body Fat & Health Span23:55 Causes & Behavioral Patterns38:18 Fructose vs Excess Calories1:03:50 The Hazda1:11:10 Fructose & Fruit1:22:25 Fruitarians1:32:30 Not All Carbs are the Same1:39:55 Purines & Uric Acid1:42:22 Carnivore Diet1:53:56 Summarizing Obesity2:02:46 OutroTo connect with Dr Richard Johnson, you can find him on Instagram and Twitter. You can also learn more at his website, https://drrichardjohnson.com/. His latest book, Nature Wants Us To Be Fat, is now available.Thank you to The Proof friend Eimele Essential 8 for sponsoring today’s episode. Eimele Essential 8 offers the right nutrients, in the right doses, to complement a plant-rich diet. To save 5% on your first order, head to theproof.com/friends.Make sure to head to theproof.com/podcast for the full show notes.Enjoy, friends.SimonWant to support the show?If you are enjoying The Proof a great way to support the show is by leaving a review on the Apple Podcasts or a comment on YouTube. It only takes a few minutes and helps more people find the episodes.Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)Creator of Theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon HillAuthor of The Proof is in the PlantsWatch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/SpotifyConnect with me on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookDownload my complimentary two week meal plan and plant performance