The best 39 Weight Loss books

Why We Get Fat (2010) explains why certain types of carbohydrates are the main reason we get fat. The book not only shows why people gain weight, but why the topic is so controversial. It also talks about why some people get fat and others do not, the role genetic predispositions play in this process, and which foods we should all avoid. 

Eat to Live gives readers a comprehensive overview of human nutrition, a re-evaluation of conventional nutritional wisdom, personal case studies and a practical dietary program with lots of recommendations. The reader can expect to learn about a number of different nutritional studies as well as the health benefits and repercussions of basic foods such as meat, milk, fish, vegetables and fruits.

In Defense of Food is a close examination of the rise of nutritionism in our culture, and a historical account of the industrialization of food. An expert in food ecology, author Michael Pollan takes a look at the way in which the food industry shifted our dietary focus from “food” to “nutrients,” and thus narrowed the objective of eating to one of maintaining physical health – a goal it did not accomplish.

Grain Brain (2013) outlines how what we eat can cause or mitigate serious brain disorders like anxiety, ADHD and depression. Eating well is crucial to your brain’s functioning well, and these blinks tell you why.

The Bulletproof Diet (2014) shows you how to hack your body to optimize your health, lose weight and increase your mental functioning. How? Maintain a diet filled with the right proteins and fats, and learn to exercise and sleep in the most effective way possible.

The Paleo Manifesto (2013) is the go-to guide to going paleo. It explains why the Paleo diet is in sync with our ancestors’ diet, and how you can use humanity’s anthropological and evolutionary history to get fit, feel great and lead the healthy lifestyle you’ve always wanted to.

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.

It Starts With Food (2012) gives you the inside scoop on the profound effects food can have on your body and well-being. Importantly, these blinks explain how you can alter your diet to both lose weight and feel better, body and soul.

Why Diets Make Us Fat (2016) demolishes many popular myths about diets and the relationship between weight and health. These blinks explore the science behind claims that dieting just doesn’t work and offer alternatives for people seeking to shed a few pounds and live more healthily.

The Wild Diet (2015) is your guide to using the biology of fat-burning to lose weight. These blinks explain what makes high-intensity exercise, plant-based, protein-rich diets and hydration so effective, and provide you with health hacks that you can start applying right away.

The Whole30 (2015) is a dietary program aimed at improving your health and general well-being. It’s based on the idea that, by cutting out certain harmful food groups and reintroducing others, you can find a diet that works for you.

Genius Foods (2018) makes a simple but compelling point: what we eat today is starving our brains. Drawing on the most up-to-date scientific research, it connects the dots and shows just how our diets can affect our cognitive health. But this isn’t just an academic treatise – it’s an actionable plan that’ll put you on the path to greater mental agility, balance and a happier life while safeguarding yourself against dementia.

As the title suggests, The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners (2016) is a helpful introduction to the low-carb, high-fat diet that can help you burn off unwanted pounds. It takes you on a step-by-step tour of what to expect as you “go keto” as well as what you can do to help make sure you stick to the new dietary lifestyle.

The Obesity Code (2016) addresses the alarming global rise of obesity and asks what we can do to minimize the risks to our health. The best place to start, Jason Fung argues, is to clear up common misconceptions about the causes of obesity, beginning with the old saw that all dietary fats are to blame. That means taking a closer look at the latest evidence and addressing the true culprit: insulin resistance.

What to Eat When (2018) shows how it’s not just what you eat, but when you eat that matters. This practical and fun guide dives deep into the science of eating to show you how you can enhance your health, energy and intellect through healthier eating habits. It provides a blueprint for eating right, all the time.

How Not to Diet (2019) explores how a healthy, plant-based diet can achieve effective, healthy, and sustainable weight loss. It also explores why so many people are overweight and offers a clear and detailed guide for tackling the issue. There are no quick-fixes or fad diets here, just rigorous science-based advice you can trust.

In Happy Fat (2019) Sofie Hagen reveals how painful it is to grow up fat in a society filled with prejudice and discrimination. She dispels entrenched myths about fatness, arguing that the correlation between being fat and being unhealthy has been misrepresented and that fatphobia – rather than fatness – is the dangerous social epidemic that we as a society need to challenge.  

Keto Answers (2019), by Anthony Gustin and Chris Irvin, clears up all your questions about the ketogenic diet. As ketogenic eating has grown in popularity, so-called “expert advice” and misinformation about the keto diet has grown, too. Keto Answers cuts through the confusion, explaining the science behind keto and laying out the strategies you need to implement your own ketogenic eating plan successfully.

The Metabolism Reset Diet (2019) is the new, four-week cleanse diet designed to heal damage to your liver, stimulate your metabolism, and promote rapid weight-loss. These blinks explain the science behind the program by taking a deep dive into the mysterious life of your liver. They show why your liver is so important for your health, how it can become overloaded with fat, and the simple steps you can take to clean and restore your liver to optimal health.

Body by Science (2009) is a comprehensive guide to building muscle. This handbook is driven by data, and it offers a scientifically proven approach to sculpting a fitter, firmer body. All you’ll need is a few minutes a week.

Fast. Feast. Repeat. (2020) takes readers on a whistle-stop tour of the theory and practice of intermittent fasting. Drawing on cutting-edge research and immersion in the culture of the fasting community, Fast. Feast. Repeat. lays out the whys and hows of fasting in gripping detail.

Fast This Way (2021) is not just another book touting the benefits of fasting. Instead, it uses the most up-to-date science and the author’s years of experience to outline exactly how to sustainably fast for a long and healthy life.

Burn (2021) shines a light on the science behind metabolism – the way our bodies burn energy. Packed with memorable insights and facts, it draws on the latest metabolic research and delves into the evolutionary history of the human body. 

Fast Burn (2021) is a dieting guide that aims for actual results. This handbook lays out a revolutionary approach to intermittent fasting that puts your body in gear to lose weight fast.

Feel Great Lose Weight (2020) isn’t just another diet book of quick fixes and fads. Drawing on Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s expertise, it gives you the tools to be the mechanic of your own health, showing you how to fine-tune your eating habits and lifestyle to lose weight sustainably and feel great for the long term.

Clean(ish) (2022) is a guide to living a life that’s free from the pesticides and other toxins in our food and environment. Through anecdotes, tips, and exercises, it gently and compassionately lays out a road map to a cleaner lifestyle.

The Shift (2021) breaks down how to achieve weight loss by shifting your mindset. By changing the way you think about yourself and your body, you can set into motion incredible changes that can alter not just your body, but also your sense of self, happiness, and self-worth.

Eat It! (2022) offers a sensible, fact-based and reassuring weight-loss program for those of us who are tired of chasing the latest diet trends. You’ll find sound advice and a guilt-free approach to shedding pounds and eating sensibly.

“You Just Need to Lose Weight” (2023) takes a deep dive into some of society’s most harmful myths about fat people. By revealing the facts behind these common misconceptions, Aubrey Gordon gives readers the tools to analyze their own internal biases, combat anti-fat discrimination, and support the goal of social acceptance for people of all sizes.

Juicing for Beginners (2013) is a comprehensive guidebook that tells you everything you need to know to get started on juicing. It covers the basics of juicing, from its health benefits and machine types, to different beginner-friendly recipes to try. 

The Galveston Diet (2023) is a science-backed diet program for women experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms. With a focus on science-backed approaches, this diet program includes a special meal plan designed for six weeks and a variety of healthy, delicious recipes. It is designed to help women in midlife improve their overall health and wellness while managing the challenges that come with this stage of life.

Eat to Beat Your Diet (2023) is a science-backed guide to healthy weight loss and disease-free living. It reveals surprising links between fat, metabolism, and certain nutrients, showing that eating more of the most beneficial foods is actually the path to increased health and happiness.

Fast Like a Girl (2022) empowers women to craft a fasting lifestyle based on their own personal hormone cycle. Learn how to harness your natural power by making fasting work with your body rather than against it.

Fiber Fueled (2020) introduces you to your gut microbiome and its importance for your health. It explains how you can keep your microbiome healthy by eating a wide variety of plants.

The Circadian Code (2018) presents a fascinating look at the science of circadian rhythms – how human biology is timed in daily cycles. It reveals how small tweaks in things like the timing of meals, exercise, or light exposure can have an outsized impact on health and well-being.

Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating (2019) guides compulsive eaters past the mental traps that lead to overindulgence. It applies the "Easyway" method which has already helped millions quit smoking and expands on it to uncover the psychological roots of our unhealthy impulses, freeing us to rediscover balanced eating habits.

On This Bright Day (2023) is a vital tool for anyone who is on the Bright Lines Eating path. For each and every day of the year, it offers advice and encouragement for those who are working the program and doing their best to keep temptations and negativity at bay. 

28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day (2023) offers an original intermittent fasting program for forming lasting habits, even after prior lapses. Simple daily check-ins build self-awareness and resilience as readers discover renewed health over 28 days of time-restricted eating.

Zero Sugar / One Month (2024) is a roadmap aimed at helping individuals eliminate sugar from their diet to achieve long-term health. It provides actionable advice, including guides on what to eat, how to resist temptation, and a day-by-day timeline of what to expect – along with motivational anecdotes and tips to navigate emotional challenges and build confidence throughout the 30-day journey.