Decoding Myths About Hunger episode artwork

EPISODE · May 15, 2026 · 13 MIN

Decoding Myths About Hunger

from Well Beyond 40 · host JJ Virgin

I am so excited to welcome back my friend Dr. Jason Fung, a world-renowned nephrologist and expert on intermittent fasting, to discuss his groundbreaking new book. In this episode, we peel back the layers on why the traditional "calories in, calories out" model is a complete failure and how hormones truly dictate our weight. You will discover the three distinct types of hunger and learn why your struggles with weight are rarely a matter of willpower or discipline. What you’ll learn: (00:00) Why the biggest lie about hunger is that it signals nutrient need. (00:48) What homeostatic hunger is and how hormones control it. (01:35) How emotional (hedonic) hunger drives overeating behaviors. (02:16) Why ultra-processed foods amplify reward pathways in the brain. (03:02) How conditioned habits create hunger even without physical need. (04:25) Why the calories in calories out model fails in real life. (06:23) How sleep, stress, and environment influence how much you eat. (08:40) Why hormonal changes (like perimenopause) impact weight gain. Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXyS30SMzAY Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/thehungercode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am so excited to welcome back my friend Dr. Jason Fung, a world-renowned nephrologist and expert on intermittent fasting, to discuss his groundbreaking new book. In this episode, we peel back the layers on why the traditional "calories in, calories out" model is a complete failure and how hormones truly dictate our weight. You will discover the three distinct types of hunger and learn why your struggles with weight are rarely a matter of willpower or discipline. What you’ll learn: (00:00) Why the biggest lie about hunger is that it signals nutrient need. (00:48) What homeostatic hunger is and how hormones control it. (01:35) How emotional (hedonic) hunger drives overeating behaviors. (02:16) Why ultra-processed foods amplify reward pathways in the brain. (03:02) How conditioned habits create hunger even without physical need. (04:25) Why the calories in calories out model fails in real life. (06:23) How sleep, stress, and environment influence how much you eat. (08:40) Why hormonal changes (like perimenopause) impact weight gain. Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXyS30SMzAY Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/thehungercode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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This episode was published on May 15, 2026.

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I am so excited to welcome back my friend Dr. Jason Fung, a world-renowned nephrologist and expert on intermittent fasting, to discuss his groundbreaking new book. In this episode, we peel back the layers on why the traditional "calories in,...

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