#289 - Why Nutrition Science Got It WRONG (and the Case for the Carb-Insulin Model) | Gary Taubes & Mike Haney

#289 - Why Nutrition Science Got It WRONG (and the Case for the Carb-Insulin Model) | Gary Taubes & Mike Haney

From LEVELS – A Whole New Level by Levels

January 1, 2026 · 1h 34m

About this episode

Gary Taubes discusses the flaws in nutrition science and advocates for the carbohydrate-insulin model as a better explanation for obesity.

According to investigative science journalist Gary Taubes, m uch of what we “know” about nutrition is built on weak evidence, bad assumptions, and decades of groupthink. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Taubes joins Mike Haney to examine how nutrition science went off the rails—and why he remains convinced the carbohydrate–insulin model still offers the most coherent explanation for obesity. Taubes explains how observational studies became policy, why randomized trials are often ignored, and why questioning the calorie-balance model remains controversial despite mounting contradictions. The conversation is less about winning an argument and more about how science should actually work —especially when public health is at stake. ⁠Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 What Gary Taubes & Mike Haney discuss: [4:10] — How Gary Taubes became interested in “bad science.” [9:45] — Why nutrition science relies too heavily on epidemiology [15:30] — Correlation vs. causation in diet research [22:10] — The problem with the calorie-balance model [29:40] — Introducing the carbohydrate–insulin model [36:55] — Why insulin resistance changes…

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