Michael Dansinger, MD, is the inspirational weight loss and nutrition advisor for NBC’s hit prime time series “The Biggest Loser.” The astounding weight loss average of 100 pounds routinely seen on the show were achieved in part by “The Biggest Loser Diet” which Dr. Dansinger helped create. “The Biggest Loser Diet” is also the centerpiece of the best-selling book series based on the show.
A renowned dietary counselor, Dansinger published one of the most highly read and quoted scientific articles of 2005, “Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Cardiac Risk Reduction” in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association. He is currently conducting a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of the USDA food pyramid and a low-starch version of the food pyramid, for weight loss and heart disease reduction and directs a lifestyle coaching practice for weight loss and diabetes reversal and prevention.
Based on his inspirational work with NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” and his own Diabetes Reversal Clinic, Dr. Dansinger’s programs provide an informative look at the societal epidemic of obesity and the related health problems. “Beating Obesity: Mission Impossible?” explores how and why the societal epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and related health problems have reached such desperate proportions. Providing a necessary optimism and insight for our society to conquer this “mission impossible,” Dansinger illustrates how individuals can rapidly reverse the trends. He shares his principles of “strategic eating” and “accelerated weight loss” and demonstrates how some individuals on the show lose up to 100 pounds in 3 months, or even 200 pounds in under a year.
In a separate program designed specifically for health care professionals, Dr. Dansinger provides an informative look at the role the medical establishment should play in the prevention of obesity-related medical problems, and what primary care practices can do to reduce type 2 diabetes in their patient population. He discusses principles of “accelerated weight loss” under idealized conditions, which provide dramatic reminders about the power of lifestyle change, and motivates providers to learn to harness that power for use in the clinic. Drawing on techniques used in his own Diabetes Reversal Clinic, Dansinger illustrates how to identify patients amenable to lifestyle change and explains how to coach motivated patients to achieve diabetes remission or substantial medication reduction.
AT A GLANCE: An internationally recognized authority on dietary and lifestyle counseling for weight loss, Dr. Dansinger holds multiple academic positions. He is the Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Editor for WebMD’s academic medical journal, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, a scientist with the USDA Nutrition Research Center, and a member of the Division of Endocrinology at Tufts-New England Medical Center.
Dr. Dansinger has been interviewed about his weight loss experience on the Today show, CNN, National Public Radio, CBS Radio, BBC Radio, Italian Public Television, Time, USA Today, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Oprah, and many others. He was on the Consumer Reports expert panel for rating popular diets.
