The Economists' Diet: The Surprising Formula for Losing Weight and Keeping It Off

by Christopher Payne, Rob Barnett

FEATURED ON CBS THIS MORNING AND CNBC’S SQUAWK BOX

Combining the authors’ personal weight-loss stories with their passion for economics, this bold new behavioral approach to dieting recommends micro habits and meta-rules that will enable dieters to control their impulses to overeat, approach food in a healthier way, and lose weight once and for all.

Chris Payne and Rob Barnett are two formerly obese economists who met while working at Bloomberg. They faced the same obstacles to healthy living that so many others face long hours, endless stress, constant eating out, and snacking out of boredom. When they finally decided to do something about it, they lost weight by applying what they know best—economics—to their waistlines.

The Economists’ Diet outlines a straightforward, sustainable path for changing your eating habits. By combining economic principles, real-world data, and their own personal experiences, this guide teaches you how to control your impulses to overeat and learn how to approach food in a healthier way. Payne and Barnett provide simple solutions that you can use to achieve lasting results, without extreme dieting or giving up your favorite foods. By applying economic concepts, such as supply and demand, budgeting, and abundance, The Economists’ Diet is a unique and effective way to lose weight—and successfully keep it off.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Economics, Food, Audiobook, Diets

320 pages, Hardcover

Published January 2, 2018

Reviews

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Popular weight loss books often promote fad diets or strict exercise and diet regimens.

This book offers a practical and realistic approach when it comes to weight loss. Cleverly incorporating economic concepts, the authors promote "self imposed austerity," or simply eating less with only one meal in the day being a full meal. They promote calorie consciousness as opposed to logging food.

I enjoy the forgiving approach to weight loss in the book, emphasizing that it's ok to take part in holiday feasting or splurging occasionally as long as it is paired with a "mini fast" (skipping a meal).

Overall, the book was an easy and motivational read.

[Siobhan Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, common-sense advice about how to handle abundance in our modern world. I highly recommend. I'm not a reader of diet books, and certainly not books about economics, but this one resonated with me, from the evolution of how over-eating became the way Americans eat every day, to the small reminders of how to stay on track to getting to your own healthy goals.
And I met Chris Payne and he's a great guy.

[Siah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this journey with so much hope but It is a big missed opportunity. A blog post gone long. This might be the book that proves to everyone in doubt that economics is not a real science. I was expecting the authors to go all in with evaluating all variables and parameters especially when they were talking about light beer. This book is not good for serious dieters but definitely a bad read for serious economists.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. Both Chris and Robb understand the average plus size person and can relate to the struggle to lose weight and stay fit so well.

‘Of course we are mere mortals. We will always stray, we will always succumb, and we will always celebrate an occasion to feast and be merry. But in general, we can win the battle that takes place in our minds, and resist temptation more often than we give into it. It takes practice and time to get there, and it isn’t easy, but the benefits that come with refusal and restraint are far greater than just weight loss.’

They give helpful macro and micro tips and are able to deliver it in a fun way, relating it back to simple economics theories most of us would be familiar with from school. For instance, due to the law of diminishing returns, the more we eat a certain type of food, the less we enjoy it. Better to enjoy infrequent feasting over special occasions rather than feast all the time and receive lesser satisfaction from your favourite foods.

It’s all very common-sense eating tips couched in such a way that the reader will be able to remember them.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting comparison of economic terms with weight loss strategies. Weigh every day for motivation and to tell effects of what you ate day before.

[Kellie Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors of this book are two economists who lost 46 and 75 pounds and maintained their new weights. They apply basic economic principles to food consumption, weight loss, and maintenance of weight loss. Their goal is to maintain a healthy weight, not to achieve an amazing physique or participate in high intensity fitness activities. With their goal in mind, the approach and advice are sensible.

They begin the book with an overview of the obesity problem in the US. They indicate that people consume too much food because of the need to feel enjoyment. Some economists split enjoyment into two emotions- comfort and pleasure. We are comfortable when we are neither understimulated or overstimulated. Hunger can be viewed as understimulation. We experience pleasure when we move from a state of understimulation or overstimulation to optimal stimulation (comfort). What does this explanation have to do with overeating? Apparently, while we feel comfortable at an optimal state, we can experience further stimulation, even if the activity takes us to a place we don’t want to be (ie, eating too much food).

After the obesity epidemic info, a bit of economics terminology, and a summary of their weight gain and loss journeys, they provide advice that is supported by economic theory. I agree with most of the advice- minimize variety of foods available, plan ahead for special occasions (eat less before or after), enjoy special occasions (Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays), every day is not a special occasion, don’t let restaurants sabotage your efforts, order small portions, be calorie conscious (what foods have more/less calories) instead of a calorie counter (too obsessive and time consuming, less accurate than we think).

They advise us to eat one square meal a day and two small meals. They seem to be anti-snack. Sorry- I have to eat at least six times a day. However, I agree that multiple big meals are not necessary. They also advise weighing every day. At first, I disagreed with that advice. I am not a fan of using the scale as an indicator of success. However, they use the daily weigh-ins to make sure they stay on track and don’t surprisingly gain 10 pounds. They do not attach their self-worth to a number on the scale.

Overall, the book provides a common-sense approach to lifelong weight management. Budget food and calories the way you (should) budget your money. Behaviors relevant to money and other life decisions are relevant to food choices, too. They admit that weight loss and maintenance of a healthy weight take work and involve change, but it is possible.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, practical dieting tips from 2 economists (who are not MDs). I listened to this on audio, and it’s sort of like listening to friends share their practical dieting tips—but these friends interpret everything though the concepts of Econ. It’s very fun to hear if you’ve ever studied Econ. All in all, I thought their tips were good. I disagree with a few of their approaches (such as semi-fasting as an advisable weight loss technique), and I think you need to keep reminding yourself that this is just a couple of everyday people sharing what worked for them, rather than medical experts. I will say the book was silent on any potential differences in weight loss between men and women (and it seemed like the authors were oblivious that this might even be a concept to consider). Overall, an encouraging read for anyone interested in normal/everyday weight loss efforts.

My favorite quote:
“It’s pretty clear from our investigations: Thin people limit their chip consumption.“

[Ahouse4biswas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The economist approach to losing weight advocates eating less along with daily weighings which holds you accountable for the weight you have lost. In order to maintain this weight loss you cannot go back to the way you use to eat but must now eat less than you did before losing the weight. You are still able to enjoy holiday and special occasion meals but must be willing to skip a meal or two before or after the event. Also by eating the same thing daily like oatmeal for breakfast and a salad for lunch or one square meal (meat and two sides) and two light meals; should take you on the path of permanent weight loss. Must be willing to experience hunger, is the caveat, though.

An interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can't wait to follow up this review in about six months with an update on if it worked for me.

[Natalie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Economists’ Diet was written by two men who practice what they preach. Christopher Payne PhD and Rob Barnett are two formerly obese economists. They discovered and formulated some principles for weight-loss and diet and this resulted in their shedding the excess weight and keeping it off for several years. Their book is ultimately a practical and no-nonsense guide to eating, lifestyle, and nutrition. It explains some concepts affecting human choices and behaviours and they manage to present this in an engaging and easy-to-follow way so that you don’t need to be an economist in order to incorporate these things in your daily life.

To read the rest of this review please visit: http://magazine.100percentrock.com/re...

[Natalie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Economists’ Diet was written by two men who practice what they preach. Christopher Payne PhD and Rob Barnett are two formerly obese economists. They discovered and formulated some principles for weight-loss and diet and this resulted in their shedding the excess weight and keeping it off for several years. Their book is ultimately a practical and no-nonsense guide to eating, lifestyle, and nutrition. It explains some concepts affecting human choices and behaviours and they manage to present this in an engaging and easy-to-follow way so that you don’t need to be an economist in order to incorporate these things in your daily life.

To read the rest of this review please visit: http://magazine.100percentrock.com/re...

[Lael Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like their simplifying of meal size to 1 'square' meal -- with the realistic reminder of what that size should mean as far as what little 'room' is left for other meals (basically 1 other 'light' meal and a small snack. And having a food budget -- purposefully cutting somewhere else before/after overdoing it.

I feel they focused too much on calories in their effort to stay away from recommending a specific diet. My experience is that simply weighing yourself every day is NOT the panacea that they claim for it. And the writing was not motivational at all (something I really value in diet books)

Even so I have found myself referencing some of their thoughts in the week since I read this book -- so bumped them up a star just for that.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a quick note first, it did not take me two months to read this book, I started it in early May but stopped until I was out of school and could give it more attention. I came back to it in early June and finished it July 5. I took time to focus on it and mull over each chapter in relation to my life before moving onto the next.

I have read lots and lots of books and articles about weight loss but this book is the first one that resonated with me. It IS doable. What the authors are saying is not impossible, it just takes time and commitment. At times I think they got a little heavy with the economics but their best practices for weight loss are simple and easy to follow if one is so inclined. And I am so inclined.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually surprisingly good. I love their economic twist on the challenge of weight loss and I love that they had their own personal challenges to share. Definitely, not your typical diet book. No calorie counting or pushing of exercise. Just good old less calories in and creating new habits and perspectives regarding food. But they are definitely economists so much of their language and references display this. However, I didn't feel lost or as if the language was over my head. In fact, it was quite refreshing. I've already started incorporating a few of their principles into my diet. After trying so many different ones, I don't have anything to lose.

[Ocean G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I expected a book by economists to have more empirical data rather than anecdotes and personal stories. Actually, I agreed with pretty much everything they said, and I rather liked their ideas (weigh yourself every day, limit variety in your diet, etc.). Obviously they both lost weight and their approach worked for both of them, but they even mentioned how what works for one person may not work for another, so I guess I expected more in the way of aggregate studies and data.

Although the study by John Cisna (page 131), where he ate nothing but McDonald's for six months and lost 61 pounds, was interesting.

[Karen Edick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It was a fairly quick read and has a lot of good tips for weight loss. I really like the simple approach to eating. I agree with the authors that some popular diets are just too difficult/ complicated to follow and people ending up quitting. The principles discussed in the book are simple to follow and save time. No specials recipes, food combinations to consider. Weighing everyday right now, is not something I look forward to but it does make me connect what I eat with how much I weigh.

[Pete Apple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, common sense book, recommended by the Economist as one of their 2017 books.

I thought the authors were amusing and candid in their stories. The way they lost weight just made sooo much more sense than many of the diets that come and go espousing this food or that food. The first book I've read in quite a bit that simply said in plain language - Less Food. The K.I.S.S. system is always the best one, as one might have imagined. I've started a few of the recommended habits and already seeing a difference.

[Zac Sigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had great success with Allen Carr's "The EASYway to Quit Smoking" when I quit smoking, so I'm hoping for similar success from reading this book. The approaches are similar, though "The Economists' Diet" doesn't pretend that it will be easy or that the dieter will barely notice cravings. This book makes eating somewhat like a calculable transaction, and teaches the reader to approach eating as though each meal was an investment.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best diet books I have ever read. First off, both authors created and follow the diet. One lost 75 lbs and kept it off for 14 years. the other lost 5o and has kept it off fort 4 years.
Two biggest takeaways: Weigh yourself every day so you start to learn what does and does not put pounds on. Also, stop eating so much. Eat three meals a day: two light meals and one square meal.

If you have yo yo dieted in the past I would highly recommend this book.

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple and practical advice laid out in an easy-to-follow format. When I practice these simple steps I have had success. so now it's just recognizing confronting the fact that these steps have to be lifelong practices not just it's something I do to lose 10 or 20 pounds. I have to continue for the remainder of my life to successfully to keep off that 10 or 20 pounds ( er actually more like 40).

[Richard Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long term behavioural change begins here

This book is at once optimistic, realistic and depressing. There are no quick fixes, only behaviour change. That's hard, but this book shows how to make the right sacrifices, without going overboard.

[Steve P. Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

They speak the truth. We’re fat because we eat too much. Lots of tips to break that cycle.

[Susan Ciliberti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly fast read. A lot of good practical advice from 2 men who have turned their lives around by loosing an enormous amount of weight and are now living healthy lives.

[M. Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read. A very interesting approach to healthy living.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, well written and clear. Some sound and practical advice, very easy read.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obvious and Validating

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love “diet” books. Do I follow them? No, but there is always something that strikes a chord with me. This book talks about square and splurge meals. Good ideas.

[Sharron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read other diet books, but I thought this was a very interesting concept. Just seemed like it was very repetitive to stretch into being enough for a book.

[Elaine Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok.

[Natalie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Economists’ Diet was written by two men who practice what they preach. Christopher Payne PhD and Rob Barnett are two formerly obese economists. They discovered and formulated some principles for weight-loss and diet and this resulted in their shedding the excess weight and keeping it off for several years. Their book is ultimately a practical and no-nonsense guide to eating, lifestyle, and nutrition. It explains some concepts affecting human choices and behaviours and they manage to present this in an engaging and easy-to-follow way so that you don’t need to be an economist in order to incorporate these things in your daily life.

To read the rest of this review please visit: http://magazine.100percentrock.com/re...

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a man whom has always struggled with weight issues, I have often found diets and diet books to be overly restrictive & focussed on changing major aspects about yourself. This book was a breath of fresh air as it was a different take on a well-trodden concept. It provided easy to apply ideas and provided practical advice. It have been able to apply the lessons from this book and begun to lose weight.
If nothing else, this book provides a new way of looking at food and will make you more aware of your eating habits. With the mindset provided in the book, it is easy to lose weight without having to constantly focus on what you're eating.