Always Hungry? Book Summary - Always Hungry? Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Always Hungry? summary

Dr. David Ludwig

Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells And Lose Weight Permanently

3.9 (179 ratings)
17 mins

Brief summary

'Always Hungry?' by Dr. David Ludwig is a lifestyle book that explains why traditional diets fail and offers a new approach to weight loss. It focuses on reducing inflammation and resetting your metabolism to help you achieve sustainable results.

Table of Contents

    Always Hungry?
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 8

    We’re blaming the obesity epidemic on the wrong variables.

    People have spent decades trying to lose weight by counting calories, eating fat-free foods and exercising. So why is obesity still such a serious problem in the United States? To understand, first we have to look at some of the many misunderstandings surrounding obesity.

    Contrary to popular belief, weight gain isn’t caused by a lack of physical activity. In fact, exercise can even be counterproductive when you’re trying to lose weight. We tend to overestimate the number of calories we burn while playing sports, for instance, and it actually takes a lot of effort to burn the calories contained in a single chocolate bar. The bottom line is that you can’t lose weight by spending more time at the gym – and strenuous exercise might make you hungrier or even encourage you to overeat.

    “Fat genes” don’t explain our society’s weight problems, either (although they can have some impact on an individual’s body weight). The obesity epidemic is a fairly recent phenomenon, starting in the United States in the 1970s, and then spreading to Europe and Japan. Any genetic changes we might’ve experienced can’t have been expressed that rapidly. Something else has to be going on.

    But obesity is also not simply the result of consuming more calories than we burn. People who believe that think we can fix the problem just by eating less. But that doesn’t work. Why? Because, first of all, it’s not that easy just to eat less! Secondly, it’s unhealthy to prioritize certain foods based on their calorie content. A 200-calorie serving of french fries is much more unhealthy, for example, than a 200-calorie serving of nuts.

    But most importantly, and perhaps the most harmful misconception about weight loss, is that you can’t lose weight by eating less. You don’t gain weight when your cells have too many calories. You gain weight when your organs aren’t getting enough nutrients from your blood.

    If your organs are low on nutrients, a calorie-restricted diet only makes the problem worse. It slows your metabolism and increases your appetite – so a simple weight-loss plan won’t get you very far.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Always Hungry??

    Key ideas in Always Hungry?

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Always Hungry? about?

    Always Hungry? (2016) explains the common misconceptions about health and weight loss. In it you’ll see what you’ve been doing wrong in the quest to lose weight, and importantly, explore how you can actually train your body to process fat without giving up real, delicious food.

    Always Hungry? Review

    Always Hungry? (2016) is a remarkable book that challenges conventional beliefs about weight loss and dieting. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its groundbreaking research and evidence-based approach, it provides a fresh perspective on the causes of weight gain and offers practical strategies for sustainable weight loss.
    • The book guides readers on how to rebalance their hormones, boost metabolism, and ultimately break free from the cycle of hunger and cravings.
    • By debunking common myths and providing a science-backed framework, the book empowers readers to make informed choices about their eating habits and improve their overall health.

    Best quote from Always Hungry?

    Though we think that obesity as a condition of excess, its actually a matter of starvation of the body!

    —Dr. David Ludwig
    example alt text

    Who should read Always Hungry??

    • People looking to lose weight and feel healthier
    • Nutritionists and lifestyle coaches

    About the Author

    Dr. David Ludwig is an endocrinologist, a researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital and a professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

    Categories with Always Hungry?

    Book summaries like Always Hungry?

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    33 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Always Hungry? FAQs 

    What is the main message of Always Hungry??

    The main message of Always Hungry? is that the key to weight loss and health is controlling insulin levels through a low-glycemic diet.

    How long does it take to read Always Hungry??

    The reading time for Always Hungry? varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Always Hungry? a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Always Hungry? is worth reading as it provides groundbreaking insights into weight loss and offers practical strategies to achieve long-term health and well-being.

    Who is the author of Always Hungry??

    Dr. David Ludwig is the author of Always Hungry?.

    What to read after Always Hungry??

    If you're wondering what to read next after Always Hungry?, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • How Not to Diet by Michael Greger
    • The Obesity Code by Jason Fung
    • The Diabetes Code by Jason Fung
    • The Shift by Gary Foster
    • Clean(ish) by Gin Stephens
    • The First Minute by Chris Fenning
    • Help Me, I Have No Discipline and Zero Self-Control by Vaughn Carter
    • The Whole30 by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig
    • Why We Eat (Too Much) by Andrew Jenkinson
    • The Bulletproof Diet by Dave Asprey