In this presentation, Dr. Richard Johnson explored why obesity and related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s have surged since the late 19th century. He argues that traditional calorie-centric views overlook the deeper evolutionary and biochemical drivers of these diseases. Drawing on animal studies and historical trends, he shows how humans, like hibernating bears or migrating birds, are wired to store fat in response to environmental cues. In nature, fructose signals animals to overeat and conserve energy before periods of scarcity, but in today’s world of constant sugar availability—especially from processed foods and high-fructose corn syrup—this ancient survival mechanism has become maladaptive.

Johnson explained how excess fructose disrupts energy regulation by inducing leptin resistance, lowering cellular ATP, and increasing uric acid, which promotes oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. These processes trigger weight gain, insulin resistance, and fat accumulation in organs, linking dietary sugars to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even neurodegeneration. He emphasizes that obesity is not simply about eating too many calories but about how certain nutrients hijack biological pathways. To reverse the epidemic, Johnson advocates reducing refined sugar intake, moderating fructose consumption, improving carbohydrate quality, supporting mitochondrial health through lifestyle strategies, and addressing uric acid levels—shifting the focus from calorie counting to targeting the metabolic roots of modern disease.

This BSI Medical Society Webinar was streamed on August 12th, 2025.

A 10-minute summary of the webinar is available here free, for anyone, while the full video is available for Medical Society Members and MetFix affiliates in their dashboard.