Plant Chat: Jonathon Bailor, Setpoint Diet Expert

I’m so honored to have Jonathon Bailor on my Plant Chat this month! Jonathon is a leader in the world of the “setpoint diet” theory, which has always fascinated me as a registered dietitian and nutrition expert. He is the founder of SANESolution, a company that empowers people to achieve diabetes reversal and a healthy weight. Jonathon authored the New York Times best seller The Calorie Myth, has spoken at TED conferences and Fortune 100 companies for over a decade, and is endorsed and implemented by top doctors from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic and many more. His latest book, The Setpoint Diet, includes 15 years of scientific research. Continue reading to find out more about Jonathon’s best advice for achieving a healthy weight for the long term.

What is the science behind the setpoint theory in weight loss? How does it impact metabolism?

All biological organisms automatically seek to maintain balance—or homeostasis. All life-sustaining functions in the body are homeostatically regulated around a specified range—often referred to as a “setpoint”. Regarding weight, this changed from a theory to a fact with the discovery of hormones like leptin, which exist to automatically regulate body fat, appetite, and energy expenditure—also known as automatically balancing body weight around a specific “point.”

What have we learned about this theory of weight loss in the past years since it was first introduced?

Hormonal discoveries such as leptin and neurological discoveries pertaining to brain inflammation’s impact on appetite, and digestive discoveries around different microbiota desiring or craving different foods, have proven that just like the body has myriad ways it attempts to balance blood sugar and blood pressure around a setpoint, body fat works the same way.

Why is the setpoint theory relevant in today’s society of overweight and obesity? 

When these automatically self-regulating systems break down, we say that a person is suffering from a disease, not a character flaw. For example, the breakdown of the homeostatic system for blood sugar is called diabetes, for blood pressure it is called hypertension, and for body fat it’s called overweight and obesity. The fact that overweight and obesity are diseases where they body’s ability to automatically balance energy around a healthful weight has been compromised, will significantly alter the way the medical community and society as a whole treat overweight and obesity, as well as the individuals who suffer from this disease.

What are the main nutrition principles of the setpoint diet strategy? How do they uniquely impact metabolism and weight management?

Here are some of the major diet strategies:

• Satiety: Eat foods that fill you up and keep you full in as few calories as possible.
• Aggression: Eat foods that keep your hormones stable.
• Nutrition: Eat foods that provide you with the most essential nutrition.
• Efficiency: Eat foods that are not easily stored as fat by the body.

These “SANE” foods are high in water, fiber, and protein, and fit into four main food groups: Non-starchy vegetables, nutrient dense proteins, whole food fats, and low fructose fruits.

How are these goals achieved on a plant-based diet?

SANE eating is compatible with any lifestyle; you would simply choose the most Satisfying, unAggressive, Nutritious, and inEfficient plant foods. The best whole food fats in the world are plant based. Pea, hemp, and rice protein powders are excellent options for vegans.

After optimal results are achieved on this strategy, can people go back to following a more liberalized diet?

Yes, however we consistently notice that tastes change, and that people begin to crave SANE foods, so they no longer desire to put lower quality foods into their body.

What are some of your best tips for helping people achieve a healthy weight for the long term?

Focus on eating more non-starchy veggies—period. It’s the one thing everyone agrees on, but that the fewest people do.

Check out some of my other Plant Chat interviews below:

Plant Chat: Dan Staackmann, Upton’s Naturals
Plant Chat: Neal Barnard, MD, FACC
Plant Chat: Ashley Angel Parker, Co-Founder of High Level

Written by Julie Suttle, Dietetic Intern and Sharon Palmer, RDN.