El Podcast

E34: Obesity Isn’t a Mystery—It’s Portions, Profits & Policy

Episode Summary

Dr. Marion Nestle discusses the influence of the food industry on nutrition science, public health policy, and rising obesity rates. She reflects on her career, regulatory challenges, industry conflicts of interest, and the need for simpler, healthier eating habits.

Episode Notes

Dr. Marion Nestle, leading nutrition expert and author of Food Politics, joins the show to expose how food industry funding distorts science, policy, and our diets.

Guest info: Dr. Marion Nestle is a renowned nutritionist, author, and Professor Emerita at NYU, known for her influential work on food politics, industry influence on science, and public health advocacy.

Topics discussed:

• The hidden influence of food industry funding on science and dietary guidelines
• Her time working on the Surgeon General’s Report and conflicts within federal agencies
• GMO policy, labeling battles, and the power of Monsanto
• Attending the World Economic Forum and seeing global power dynamics up close
• The rise in obesity and ultra-processed food
• Why portion sizes—not just ingredients—may best explain America’s health crisis
• Career longevity and achieving late-life success in academia

Best quotes:

• “Larger portions are a sufficient explanation for obesity—you don’t really need anything more complicated than that.”
• “People eat what’s in front of them. If the muffin is 600 calories, they’ll eat all 600.”
• “Industry-funded research almost always favors the sponsor. I can usually guess who funded a study just by reading the title.”
• “My two years in Washington? I refer to it as federal prison.”

📺Watch the full pod on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/kt35SZnfj5A