Peat Archive

Ray Peat's view of obesity fundamentally differs from the 'eat less, move more' paradigm. He argued that obesity is a metabolic disorder caused by the same factors that cause other degenerative diseases: hypothyroidism, PUFA consumption, estrogen dominance, cortisol excess, and chronic stress. In this framework, excess body fat is not simply from caloric excess but from metabolic inefficiency — the body stores fat because it cannot efficiently oxidize it.

Peat noted that PUFAs suppress thyroid function and metabolic rate, estrogen promotes fat storage, cortisol redistributes fat to the abdomen, and stress promotes insulin resistance. His approach to weight management centered on restoring metabolic rate through thyroid support, replacing PUFAs with saturated fats, eating adequate sugar and protein to prevent stress responses, and addressing hormonal imbalances.