Jason Fung

[[File:Jason Fung.png|thumb|right|165px|Jason Fung]]
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{{cquote|Fung is one of the worst charlatans out there. Fear mongering money hungry charlatan. His claims have been debunked numerous times. He uses fear to spread misinformation to sell his stuff.|||Nutritional scientist Layne Norton on Jason Fung<ref>[https://archive.ph/GPsdn Layne Norton]. Twitter.</ref>}}
[[File:Low carb breakfast.jpg|thumb|Low carbohydrate high fat breakfast]]
'''Jason Fung''' {{lived|1973}} is a [[Canadian]] nephrologist, [[cholesterol denialist]], and [[low-carbohydrate diet]] advocate who promotes [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] views about nutrition. Fung advocates intermittent [[fasting]] and a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet to prevent and treat practically every disease, including [[cancer]], heart disease, and [[obesity]].<ref name="medicalbrief">[https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/intermittent-fasting-pythagoras-fung/ Intermittent fasting: From Pythagoras to Fung]. medicalbrief.co.za.</ref><ref>[https://blog.thefastingmethod.com/how-to-reverse-fatty-liver-disease-naturally How to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease Naturally]. thefastingmethod.com.</ref><ref>[https://lewishowes.com/podcast/the-science-of-intermittent-fasting-foods-to-live-longer-with-jason-fung/ The Science of Intermittent Fasting (Foods to Live Longer & Reverse Type 2 Diabetes]. lewishowes.com.</ref> Fung advertises himself as a "world expert" on intermittent fasting.<ref name="medicalbrief"/> He is a [[conspiracy theorist]] who rejects [[evidence-based medicine]] as a "killing for profit" scam.<ref name="scam">[https://web.archive.org/web/20231107220743/https://whitecedarclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Corruption-of-Evidence-based-medicine.pdf Jason Fung rejects evidence based medicine]. whitecedarclinic.com.</ref>

Fung is a functional medicine proponent (a type of [[alternative medicine]] pseudoscience) who works with [[naturopath]]s.<ref>[https://www.ifm.org/about/profile/jason-fung-md/ Jason Fung, MD]. ifm.org.</ref> He has authored many low-carbohydrate books and cookbooks and chooses to avoid publishing his ideas in [[peer-reviewed]] medical journals.<ref>[https://www.dietdoctor.com/authors/dr-jason-fung-m-d Dr. Jason Fung, MD]. dietdoctor.com.</ref><ref>[https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/books Books]. doctorjasonfung.com.</ref> His book ''The PCOS Plan: Prevent and Reverse Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Through Diet and Fasting'' was co-authored with naturopath quack Nadia Brito Pateguana.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZd8x9JrVc Meet the authors of “The PCOS Plan”]</ref> Similar to [[Eric Berg]], Fung promotes his low-carb dietary views on [[YouTube]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/c/drjasonfung1/videos Jason Fung]. youtube.com.</ref>

Fung has been criticized for bullying academics who disagree with his low-carb dietary views and fat-shaming physicians.<ref name="Biolayne">[https://biolayne.com/articles/research/its-not-calories-its-hormones-a-response-to-dr-jason-fung/ It’s Not Calories… It’s Hormones: A Response to Dr. Jason Fung]</ref><ref name="Vox">[https://www.vox.com/2016/11/3/13510410/fat-shaming-tweet Fat shaming, explained in one terrible tweet]</ref> 

==Beliefs==
===Cancer===
Fung argues that intermittent fasting (IF) and a [[ketogenic diet]] can prevent and treat cancer and wrote a book, ''The Cancer Code''<ref>''The Cancer Code: A Revolutionary New Understanding of a Medical Mystery'' by Jason Fung (2020) Thorsons. ISBN 0008436207.</ref> making far-fetched claims.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ekDT7bScQ The Cancer Code with Dr. Jason Fung – Diet Doctor Podcast]</ref><ref name="Interview">[https://lewishowes.com/podcast/how-to-prevent-cancer-with-your-food-fasting-with-jason-fung-part-1/ Can We Prevent Cancer Just By Fasting?]. lewishowes.com.</ref> As of 2022, there is no reliable evidence that intermittent fasting and a ketogenic diet can prevent or treat cancer.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Römer M, Dörfler J, Huebner J.|year=2021|title=The use of ketogenic diets in cancer patients: a systematic review|journal=Clin Exp Med|url=|volume=21|issue=4|pages=501–536|pmid=33813635|doi=10.1007/s10238-021-00710-2|pmc=8505380 }}</ref> A recent [[Review article|review]] concluded that although some limited preliminary studies have reported positive results "the effects of IF on human cancer incidence and prognosis remain unknown because of a lack of high-quality [[Randomized controlled trial|randomized clinical trials]]".<ref>https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21694</ref> The American Cancer Society does not recommend fasting to prevent cancer.<ref>[https://www.cancer.org/healthy/eat-healthy-get-active/acs-guidelines-nutrition-physical-activity-cancer-prevention.html American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention]</ref> Fung has claimed:

{{quotebox|The people who live traditionally in Africa get no cancer, no colon cancer, but the minute they transitioned to a Western-style civilization with their foods … they actually start to get cancer.<ref name="Interview"/>}}

Fung's claim that native Africans never get cancer is not supported by any evidence. However, it has been reported that there is a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer among natives of West Africa because such populations have little meat in their diet and instead eat a lot of fibre from fruits, grains, and vegetables. Many West African nations traditionally consume a high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diet that is low in animal protein with grains such as boiled maize-meal content.<ref>https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jce/2011/675154/</ref><ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10235221/</ref> This diet is the complete opposite to Fung's, as he recommends a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet with lots of animal protein.

===Fasting===

Fung sells The Fasting Method Coaching Program™ which costs $1199. A 30-minute session with one of his fasting coaches including naturopaths costs a whopping $199.<ref>[https://www.thefastingmethod.com/programs/coaching Weight Loss Coaching]. thefastingmethod.com</ref> He says he can reverse type 2 diabetes "[[Appeal to nature|naturally]]" with intermittent fasting.<ref>[https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/ Dr. Jason Fung]. doctorjasonfung.com.</ref> 

Fung is a big proponent of "[[detoxing]]" and formulated the product "Ginger Fasting Green Tea" with the company Pique<ref>[https://www.piquelife.com/products/ginger-green-fasting-tea Ginger Fasting Green Tea]</ref> He is a fan of tea fasting and says [[green tea]] helps fasting.<ref>[https://milled.com/pique/do-not-miss-this-fasting-tea-challenge-with-dr-jason-fung-GthJsF5OcaKmJOwe Do NOT miss this! Fasting Tea Challenge with Dr. Jason Fung]</ref><ref>[https://drjasonfung.medium.com/green-tea-helps-fasting-1f9aded8fa35 Green Tea Helps Fasting]. drjasonfung.medium.com.</ref> He also controversially promotes [[water]] fasting which has been described as dangerous for those with pre-existing medical conditions.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2017/12/18/is-this-the-most-dangerous-diet-ever/ Is this the most dangerous diet ever?]. nypost.com.</ref>

Dr Alastair McAlpine noted:

{{quotebox|When Fung is not fat-shaming respected colleagues, he is appearing on the blog of some of the world’s biggest quacks. When he’s not spouting nonsense about cancer (and falsely claiming cancer deaths are going up, ignoring the last 30 years of data which show they’re coming down), he’s promoting dubious green tea products (which he is paid for). This despite a comprehensive Cochrane Collaboration meta-analysis that shows they have no statistical effect on weight loss.<ref name="medicalbrief"/>}}

In a 2022 interview on fasting with his friend [[Vinnie Tortorich]], Fung stated that weight loss isn’t about calories, its about insulin and allowing your cells to work.<ref>[https://vinnietortorich.com/2022/11/your-fasting-questions-answered-dr-jason-fung-episode-2241/ Your Fasting Questions Answered with Dr. Jason Fung – Episode 2241]</ref>

Fung spends most of his life promoting intermittent fasting but there is no good evidence that it has any health benefits as most of the studies that have been done are based on animal models.<ref>[https://archive.is/MOY1Y Intermittent fasting may not be all it’s cracked up to be, study finds]</ref><ref>[https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/02/10/intermittent-fasting-leads-to-weight-loss--not-improved-health.html Intermittent fasting leads to weight loss, not improved health]</ref> Animal model findings are not considered strong evidence in clinical medicine, nor do they translate consistently into clinical effects in human beings but Fung does not understand this. Fung openly rejects evidence-based medicine which he claims is a scam.<ref name="scam"/>

==Bullying and fat-shaming==

Fung has been accused of "fat-shaming" physicians in general and bullying those who have criticized his low-carb dietary views.<ref name="Biolayne"/> In 2016, Fung "fat-shamed" two obesity researchers on Twitter for being fat themselves. Both researchers were keynote speakers at the 2016 Obesity Week.<ref name="Vox"/> In response, Dr {{wpl|Yoni Freedhoff}} took issue with Fung's behaviour on Twitter. Fung then filed a complaint to Dr Freedhoff's department in an attempt to get him fired. However, the opposite happened and Dr Freedhoff was promoted to Associate Professor.<ref>[https://archive.ph/kEWVp Yoni Freedhoff]. Twitter.</ref> He tried to get Dr Alastair McAlpine fired from his job after he wrote an article questioning Fung's cancer statistics and green tea promotion.<ref>[https://archive.ph/tZm5s Alastair McAlpine]. Twitter.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fung, Jason}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Cholesterol and statin denialists]]
[[Category:Food woo promoters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Low-carb fanatics]]
[[Category:Physicians]]

Categories: Authors, Cholesterol and statin denialists, Food woo promoters, Living people, Low-carb fanatics, Physicians