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A Fat Lot of Good: How the Experts Got Food and Diet So Wrong and What You Can Do to Take Back Control of Your Health
Like most doctors, Peter Brukner was trained to believe that drugs and surgery are the answers to all medical problems - including the epidemics of obesity, diabetes and other 'modern illnesses' that are threatening our healthcare system and the life expectancy of future generations. For years he was dismissive of any 'alternative' diets or lifestyle changes. But that all changed when, facing the double threat of obesity and diabetes himself, his research led to a shocking realisation that overturned a lot of the medical 'truth' he'd taken for granted- our dietary guidelines and food pyramid have no scientific basis. So he switched to a low-carb, healthy fat lifestyle - and dropped 13 kilos, lowered his insulin levels and drastically improved his liver function in just three months. In A Fat Lot of Good Dr Brukner busts the dietary myths we've been living by for decades and gives you all the information you need, in as simple a way as possible, to live a longer, healthier and - most importantly - more enjoyable life. A Fat Lot of Good features- A The real reasons why we're all getting fatter and less healthy A The lowdown on carbs, fats and proteins- what they do, which we actually need and how much A What you need to know about insulin, inflammation and the gut microbiome A Dr Brukner's Five Golden Rules for a healthy lifestyle A Tips on reading food labels, making smart choices when eating out and buying real food on a budget A Advice on how to get the right levels of exercise, sleep and sun to boost your health A A selection of simple low-carb, healthy fat recipes to get you started Packed full of the latest research and countless practical tips, A Fat Lot of Good is the complete toolkit for building the healthy lifestyle that's right for you. All author proceeds donated to SugarByHalf. Author BiographyDr Peter Brukner OAM is a world-renowned Australian sports medicine clinician and researcher. Until recently the team doctor for the Australian cricket
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 10, 2025
Fabulous book, written in such a an engaging way for a non-fiction scientific/health book. Highly recommend this for anyone curious about low carb eating and the effects of high carbohydrate consumption. Five stars hardly enough for this one. I rarely get through non-fiction but found this one hard to put down, and a great reference book for referring back to.
December 31, 2018
A really good book, written in plain English but with a lot of information, by an Australian doctor who knows what he is talking about!
I first started to investigate the keto way of eating via Professor Tim Noakes from South Africa and that way of eating makes so much sense to me. I have watched several documentaries about our sugar consumption and our obsession with low-fat everything (but only in the past 30 years or so - is it just my imagination or were there very few obese people in the 70's???) and I think my grandparents had the right idea. They were never overweight, however, I have struggled with my weight for most of my life. The whole low-fat thing started to be embraced by my mother when I was edging into my teens. Co-incidence? I think not. Never too late to turn it around though.
Anyway, I loved this book and having it written from an Australian perspective is very helpful to me. The recipes in the back are also useful and they look tasty as well!
I first started to investigate the keto way of eating via Professor Tim Noakes from South Africa and that way of eating makes so much sense to me. I have watched several documentaries about our sugar consumption and our obsession with low-fat everything (but only in the past 30 years or so - is it just my imagination or were there very few obese people in the 70's???) and I think my grandparents had the right idea. They were never overweight, however, I have struggled with my weight for most of my life. The whole low-fat thing started to be embraced by my mother when I was edging into my teens. Co-incidence? I think not. Never too late to turn it around though.
Anyway, I loved this book and having it written from an Australian perspective is very helpful to me. The recipes in the back are also useful and they look tasty as well!
July 1, 2018
A great overview of the current thinking on our diet's impact on our health, and how getting health messages so wrong over the years has led to the current obesity crisis. Fat is not the enemy; sugar is, and it's everywhere.
July 6, 2025
Certainly a situational read, read at the same time as Dad after he recommended it after he got his parkinson’s diagnosis and how he wanted to implement it to help with his symptoms.
Look i think there is merit to what Peter is saying and clearly as a doctor with loads of study into it, there is scientific evidence to back it up, but i find some of it to be just false when it comes to things like performance and athletes, he mentions the topic of Shane Watson and how he cut off a bit of his loose change implementing this diet, which if it makes him healthier is great, but him saying this can make you a better athlete is just straight up false and contradicts other scientific evidence so it takes away from the good parts of this book for me.
I think generally speaking a lower carb diet for the average human with an increased effort on healthy proteins, healthy fats, lots of veggies and some fruit in there as well is a good way to live, and especially given the increase information coming out on things like inflammation and the gut microbiome, it is certainly topical.
An imperfect book but again played the role of how chronic diseases can be managed with a diet like this, so in the case of dad it was good to read to get an idea of how it will benefit him and his symptoms.
Look i think there is merit to what Peter is saying and clearly as a doctor with loads of study into it, there is scientific evidence to back it up, but i find some of it to be just false when it comes to things like performance and athletes, he mentions the topic of Shane Watson and how he cut off a bit of his loose change implementing this diet, which if it makes him healthier is great, but him saying this can make you a better athlete is just straight up false and contradicts other scientific evidence so it takes away from the good parts of this book for me.
I think generally speaking a lower carb diet for the average human with an increased effort on healthy proteins, healthy fats, lots of veggies and some fruit in there as well is a good way to live, and especially given the increase information coming out on things like inflammation and the gut microbiome, it is certainly topical.
An imperfect book but again played the role of how chronic diseases can be managed with a diet like this, so in the case of dad it was good to read to get an idea of how it will benefit him and his symptoms.
April 28, 2021
To be honest, I usually ignore these kinds of books, but the author was invited as a Levittt Distinguished Seminar speaker. I figured he wasn't full of shit. This book is the usual cut out carbs and processed foods. Eat more fat, meat, and leafy vegetables. I love carbs. You will pry my milk chocolate caramels and potato bread out of my cold, dead hands. It is nice to know that my pie crust made from lard is relatively healthier than one made from Crisco.
This book did give me some health indicators to look for like Triglycerides/HDL ratio (mine is a healthy 0.7) and C reactive protein (a indicator of inflammation, mine is a healthy <1.0). So, I'll keep track of those and change my diet in response to changes.
This book did give me some health indicators to look for like Triglycerides/HDL ratio (mine is a healthy 0.7) and C reactive protein (a indicator of inflammation, mine is a healthy <1.0). So, I'll keep track of those and change my diet in response to changes.
August 17, 2019
Some good information in there, but overall it is let down by some incorrect information. Author talks about BMI as though it is a valid measurement of health, when it is well known these days not to be (and was not created to be a measurement of health in the first place).
Also when talking about prebiotics, he states that lactulose is a prebiotic that is medically used to treat diarrhoea. This is very much incorrect, lactulose is used to treat constipation. So if anyone is using it to treat diarrhoea, or prescribe it for such (considering the author is a Dr after all), they are going to have a really bad time of it.
Also when talking about prebiotics, he states that lactulose is a prebiotic that is medically used to treat diarrhoea. This is very much incorrect, lactulose is used to treat constipation. So if anyone is using it to treat diarrhoea, or prescribe it for such (considering the author is a Dr after all), they are going to have a really bad time of it.
June 3, 2022
Life changing
Opened the gateway to reading and finding out more about this topic and suffice to say, we’ve been duped. Only 2 weeks in to following this method of eating and I have cleaner skin, less aches and pains, quicker workout recovery and not craving sugary foods in between meals. Generally feeling better.. if only I’d tried it sooner. Dr Robert Lustig is another great very knowledgeable lecturer on this topic and particularly the sugar - check it out.
Will blow your mind…
Opened the gateway to reading and finding out more about this topic and suffice to say, we’ve been duped. Only 2 weeks in to following this method of eating and I have cleaner skin, less aches and pains, quicker workout recovery and not craving sugary foods in between meals. Generally feeling better.. if only I’d tried it sooner. Dr Robert Lustig is another great very knowledgeable lecturer on this topic and particularly the sugar - check it out.
Will blow your mind…
January 9, 2022
Clearly written, simple, truthful approach to healthy living. Turns traditional thinking on its head and exposes the corporate criminals and their accomplices in the process. Highly recommend this book to everyone.
December 31, 2019
I went down the lchf road for far too long and felt suboptimal for weeks. I followed the the diet and suffered, if you are young and fit I would look elsewhere.
February 19, 2022
Good no nonsense book aimed at Australian audience promoting low carb lifestyle to avoid numerous health problems.
January 22, 2023
a general guide for individuals who needs a healthier lifestyle for more severe illnesses, it may not have enough information.
March 27, 2024
For a ‘condensed’ version of a previous book, this is an excellent read. I would recommend reading it through, and in a convenient time, give it a reread… you will definitely learn a lot.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews