Is Obesity Really Genetic? Debunking Common Myths with Dr. Ken Berry

Recently I sat down with Dr. Ken Berry—physician, bestselling author, and one of my favorite no-nonsense voices in nutrition—to tackle a topic that’s been causing confusion for patients and clinicians alike: is obesity genetic, or are we letting media messages and industry interests steer the conversation? Our discussion ranged from a controversial Time article on ultra‑processed foods to rising childhood obesity rates, the role of sugar, grains and seed oils, and why visceral fat (including fatty pancreas and fatty liver) matters more than most people realize.

The Time Magazine Moment: Why Media Trust Matters

When a legacy outlet like Time.com published a piece that elevated ultra‑processed foods based on a single registered dietitian’s experience, it created a perfect storm. Many people still regard publications like Time as “a magazine of record.” That trust used to serve as a quality control: editors and fact‑checkers would push back hard on poorly supported claims. Today, with the imperative to chase clicks and ad dollars, that gatekeeping has weakened.

The original Time headline implied uncertainty about ultra‑processed foods in a way that favored Big Food. After a social media uproar, Time changed the title to clarify that it was an opinion piece from one dietitian—but the damage was already done. Most readers see a headline, skim the first paragraph, and move on. That takeaway—“ultra‑processed foods may not be so bad”—is precisely the result food manufacturers want.

The bigger lessons

• You can’t blindly trust headlines—even from historically reputable outlets.

• Your voice matters: collective, informed pushback on social media can hold media and industry accountable.

• If nutrition isn’t your niche, don’t assume every article from a major outlet is accurate; cultivate healthy skepticism and follow the evidence.

  
  

The Problem with N=1 and Observational Claims

Personal stories have value, but extrapolating a single person’s experience to a population is scientifically unsound. As Dr. Berry put it on social media: “Leading people to believe that observational research proves anything makes you either ignorant, lazy, or dishonest.” An N=1 success story shouldn’t be used to overturn decades of metabolic research.

Observational research is useful for generating hypotheses, not proving causation. When headlines conflate anecdote with evidence, patients and clinicians alike can be misled into poor choices.

Celebrity Endorsements and Ultra‑Processed Foods

Another driver of confusion is celebrity or athlete endorsements of ultra‑processed products. The recent promotion of sugary breakfast cereals by famous athletes sends mixed messages to children and parents. Kids idolize athletes and often assume whatever appears on a cereal box is part of “how champions eat.” In reality, elite athletes fuel performance with nutrient‑dense whole foods tailored to heavy training—not sugar‑and‑seed‑oil cereal.

When public figures take sponsorship money to promote obesogenic products, they normalize unhealthy eating patterns. We can and should call that out. Use your voice—comment, share, and educate—because social media amplifies collective response.

Childhood Obesity: The Alarming Numbers

The trends are stark. Rough estimates discussed in our conversation show that 25 years ago childhood obesity hovered around 6%; today it’s far higher. In teens, reported figures included:

• Approximately 19% obesity prevalence

• ~18% with fatty liver

• ~30% prediabetic

• ~40% overweight or obese

Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and prediabetes in children were once rare; now clinics focused on pediatric metabolic disease are common. When clinician societies start recommending drug therapies for children as young as 12—or consider lowering that to 6—without robust long‑term safety data, alarm bells should ring.

GLP‑1s in kids: proceed with caution

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance recommending GLP‑1 receptor agonists or bariatric surgery for adolescents with severe obesity is controversial. These are powerful medications with limited long‑term pediatric safety data at obesity‑doses. Jumping straight to pharmacologic interventions without prioritizing accessible lifestyle support (nutrition counseling, food access, activity) risks medicalizing a social and dietary problem and may treat symptoms rather than root causes.

Sugar, Grains, and Seed Oils: Where Should We Start?

When patients ask “what’s worse?” I lean into practical priorities. Dr. Berry’s early rules—eliminate added sugar, remove refined grains, and cut vegetable seed oils—are straightforward and often powerful:

1. Eliminate added sugars: Research linking added sugar and refined carbohydrates to hyperinsulinemia, weight gain, and metabolic disease is robust.

2. Eliminate refined grains: These contribute to rapid glucose spikes and drive calorie overconsumption.

3. Limit vegetable seed oils: The evolutionary case against industrial seed oils is compelling, though the direct evidence is less mature than for sugar and refined carbs.

For many people, simply removing added sugars and refined grains will naturally reduce processed food consumption and—by extension—seed oil intake, because most packaged foods combine sugar, refined grains, and seed oils. That’s a practical, evidence‑based first step.

Visceral Fat: Why Fat Around the Organs Matters

Not all fat is equal. Visceral fat—fat wrapped around organs—is metabolically active and dangerous. Two often overlooked and highly consequential deposits are fatty pancreas and fatty liver. Fatty pancreas is a particularly ominous marker linked to impaired insulin secretion and metabolic deterioration.

The good news: visceral fat is often the first fat to disappear with carbohydrate reduction and improved metabolic health. For many people, adopting a low‑carbohydrate, nutrient‑dense diet produces rapid reductions in liver fat and improvements in metabolic markers.

Testing and affordability

Advanced imaging like MRI gives precise measurement of visceral fat, but it’s expensive and unnecessary for most. Cheaper body‑composition scales are often inaccurate (a simple test: weigh, drink 10 ounces of water, and remeasure—if the “visceral fat” jumps, the metric is unreliable). Save money for better food, not unhelpful gadgets—follow the dietary principles that have the greatest evidence for reversing metabolic disease.

So What Should Clinicians and Patients Do?

Here are practical, evidence‑focused steps we can all take:

• Question headlines. Read beyond the title and consider the quality of evidence.

• Prioritize nutrition counseling and accessible lifestyle interventions before initiating lifelong pharmacotherapy—especially in children.

• Start with simple dietary priorities: remove added sugars and refined grains; cook more at home; favor whole, nutrient‑dense foods.

• Use social media constructively: amplify accurate information, call out misleading endorsements, and support organizations that refuse industry funding.

• Watch visceral fat and metabolic markers—not just weight—when assessing health improvements.

For More information, watch this youtube video:

Resources and Next Steps

Dr. Ken Berry has an extensive video library and books that many patients find helpful for practical, commonsense approaches to metabolic health. I also want to highlight the American Diabetes Society (a clinician‑founded alternative aiming to provide clear, affordable nutrition guidance without industry funding) which is building practical resources and recipes focused on real‑food approaches to blood sugar control.

If you’re a clinician: equip your practice with nutrition resources—registered dietitians, health coaches, and simple messaging that patients can act on. If you’re a patient: remember you have agency. You can experiment safely with removing added sugars and refined grains, prioritize protein and whole foods, and seek care from clinicians who emphasize metabolic health over quick fixes.