The Peter McCormack Show #115: Dr. David Unwin – Reversing Type 2 Diabetes, Food Addiction, and the Broken Health System

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Peter McCormack
Guest: Dr. David Unwin (NHS GP & Fellow of British Society of Lifestyle Medicine)

Overview

In this candid and insightful episode, Peter McCormack sits down with Dr. David Unwin to unravel the interconnected crises of type 2 diabetes, food addiction, and the systemic failures of our healthcare system. Using Peter’s own struggles as a case study, they explore why society is getting heavier, sicker, and more medicated—and what can be done about it. Dr. Unwin shares practical advice, powerful stories from decades of NHS practice, and exposes both the personal and political stakes of Britain’s public health crisis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Myth of "Personal Discipline" in Obesity

• It's Not Just Willpower:

  • Dr. Unwin challenges the narrative that weight is primarily due to lack of discipline. He emphasizes the addictive potential of junk food and the unhealthy societal narratives around blame and willpower.
  • Quote: “My message is not that you lack willpower, that you're somehow weak. I think that is almost a dangerous statement. And it's really bad for people's self esteem…” (04:01)

• Food Environment and Addiction:

  • Like nicotine and alcohol, many foods today are engineered to be addictive. This undercuts personal choice and autonomy.
  • Quote: “Many junk foods are addictive… if junk food addiction did exist… that's something far more serious.” (04:23)

The Stakes – Why Address Health Now?

• The Spectrum of Futures:

  • Dr. Unwin shares his experience seeing patients age over decades, noting how choices today lead to vastly different outcomes: “With a bigger belly brings with it an increased risk of 8 cancers… colorectal cancer going up and up...and it's linked to a big belly.” (07:11)
  • The conversation highlights that higher body weight correlates with increased risks for cancer, high blood pressure, and especially type 2 diabetes.

• Two Paths for Patients:

  • Dr. Unwin advocates for a collaborative approach: lifestyle changes vs. lifelong medication. Astonishing savings and health improvements have been seen in his practice when patients are empowered to choose lifestyle intervention.
  • Quote: “If most patients say to me, just like you, well, I keep saving. And those savings are like standing orders...every time I start somebody on lifelong medication, that's a standing order against the treasury.” (09:03)

Dr. Unwin’s Personal and Professional Turning Point

• From Medication to Motivation:
  • Until age 55, Dr. Unwin relied on medication, believing people couldn’t change. Two pivotal women changed his views:
    1. Patient Who Reversed Diabetes via Diet: “Doctor, when I met you last time, you know, I was upset, really, because you didn't seem very curious about what I've done. And, you know, I'm wondering whether you're medically qualified… Have you even got O level biology?” (13:24)
    2. His Psychologist Wife: Taught him the collaborative, non-shaming approach to behavior change.
  • This led to group consultations (often done for free) and a transformative community approach: “We did them as group consultations and you know what? We're still doing them for free.” (20:11)

Understanding and (Reversing) Type 2 Diabetes

• Epidemic Context:

  • Dr. Unwin charts a tenfold increase in type 2 diabetes in his practice since 1986.
    • “When I started…there were 56 individuals… now about 600…same practice.” (25:04)
  • Systemic factors—not genetics—are largely to blame: “The wrong answer is like genetics and stuff like that… the environment is acting on genetic predisposition.” (25:27)

• Simple Risk Assessment:

  • Waist-to-height ratio is a key indicator. “Your belly should be less than half your height.” (27:42)
  • Pre-diabetes and diabetes diagnosis relies on Hemoglobin A1C blood tests.

• The Physiology—Fat, Sugar, and Insulin:

  • The dual-fuel metaphor: the body can run on sugar or fat. Insulin resistance leads to fat storage, especially in the belly and liver (fatty liver), which further exacerbates metabolic issues.
  • Quote: “A long, silent scream from your liver 10 years before you actually become diabetic… and people are not listening.” (36:15)
  • Fatty liver is now common—impacting a third of people, including kids as young as 12.

Public Health Catastrophe: The Broken System

• The burden of diabetes is crushing public and private finances, with insufficient focus on prevention.
• Fat jabs (e.g., Ozempic): Dr. Unwin is cautiously critical—helpful for some but a mere “window of opportunity”, not a cure. Informed consent is lacking; risks are underreported.
  • “In the British Medical Journal it was published that 82 people have died associated with these jabs. Did you know that?” (41:29)

Food Addiction – The Next Frontier

• Addiction is Real:

  • Dr. Unwin’s wife is regarded as a world expert in food addiction. Research shows 14% of adults are addicted to junk food (46:30, 51:00).
  • The dopamine-driven comfort of junk food is brief – feeding a cycle of compulsion.

• Quote: “Why was I eating milk chocolate? Why did I eat so many Jaffa Cakes to a point where I ruin my health? I believed I was stressed... But behind those beliefs was something far more sinister. And it wasn't until I tried to give them up... it took me a year to properly give up biscuits.” (49:25)

• Institutional Denial:

  • The World Health Organization does not formally recognize food addiction, preventing support for those who need it (55:11).
  • “If you come to me with gambling addiction… the WHO agree that exists… but food addiction does not exist.” (55:11)

The Engineered Food Environment

• Food companies deliberately design products for addictiveness—the “bliss point” sought in product development leads to overconsumption.
• Quote: “So they have laboratories and they're looking for the bliss point… what gets those little lights to go off in your head… Who can eat one Dorito?” (76:08, 76:57)
• The “perfect storm”: modern life makes healthy eating harder—home cooking is down, convenience/junk food up, food is more processed than ever, even for children.

Breaking the Cycle – Practical Solutions

• Emphasis on Whole, Low-Carb Foods:

  • “Turn the white stuff green”—swap refined carbs for vegetables.
  • “Increase the protein”—scrambled eggs, mince, fish as fast, satisfying staples (71:15).

• Lifestyle, Not A ‘Diet’:

  • “A diet is a thing you are on and will come off... This is a lifestyle. It's how you live your life.” (65:52)

• Personalization:

  • Use of continuous glucose monitors for real-time feedback (69:44).
  • Planning, motivation, and support are critical—environment (food in the house), company, and honest self-reflection are key.

• Addiction Requires Different Tools:

  • For some, full abstinence from trigger foods is the only viable route.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Blame and Shame:
  “It's really bad for people's self esteem to believe that they're... an inevitable consequence of their lack of discipline, because I think there are some other major factors.” (04:01, Dr. Unwin)

• On Junk Food Addiction:
  “If you're addicted to biscuits... if I feel a bit stressed... the answer is always that thing.” (48:54, Dr. Unwin)

• On Public Health Failure:
  “We have a system, in my opinion, that makes money out of you while it makes you fat and then makes money out of you through the medication. As I merely control what's wrong instead of sorting it.” (57:20, Dr. Unwin)

• On Empowering Patients:
  “You are an expert in yourself and you're in charge of your future, because it is your future. So I'm not going to bully you, okay? But I'm giving you the choices.” (09:03, Dr. Unwin)

Practical Takeaways & Calls to Action

• How to Assess Your Risk:

  • Measure your waist at its widest—should be less than half your height.
  • Consider a Hemoglobin A1C blood test.

• First Steps:

  • Change the composition of your fridge and home environment.
  • Cook meals yourself.
  • Seek out resources like the Freshwell app, Public Health Collaboration, and Dr. Unwin’s wife’s book Fork in the Road.

• Long-Term Change:

  • See lifestyle, not weight loss, as the goal.
  • Address the potential for food addiction seriously—self-awareness, support, and sometimes abstinence from triggers needed.
  • Plan for challenges (Christmas, holidays) and be curious about setbacks.

Recommended Resources

• Follow Dr. David Unwin: Twitter @lowcarbGP
• Freshwell App: Free app for low-carb advice and tracking
• Public Health Collaboration: phcuk.org – diet sheets, recipes, and resources
• Book: Fork in the Road by Dr. Jen Unwin (Amazon/Kindle – all proceeds to charity)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Junk food addiction & industry tactics | | 04:01 | Dangers of blaming personal willpower | | 07:00 | Why body composition matters for future health | | 13:24 | Dr. Unwin’s career turning point—learning from patients | | 20:11 | Collaborative, community interventions (group consultations)| | 25:04 | Diabetes epidemic—10x rise in 40 years | | 27:42 | Practical: Waist-to-height ratio & risk assessment | | 36:15 | Fatty liver and the “silent scream” | | 41:29 | Fat jabs: benefits and dangers, lack of informed consent | | 46:30, 51:00 | Food addiction as the new public health battlefront | | 55:11 | Institutional denial and fight for recognition | | 65:52 | Shift from dieting to lifestyle change | | 71:15 | “Turn the white stuff green” – practical eating advice | | 76:08 | Food industry’s push for the “bliss point” | | 92:58 | Wrapping up: challenge to Peter and practical commitments |

Tone & Style

• Conversational, personal, and often humorous: Dr. Unwin and Peter are frank and use themselves as examples, making it relatable and compassionate.
• Science-based but accessible: Ideas are made real with memorable stories and practical advice.
• Empowering, collaborative, and non-judgmental: The focus is on equipping listeners to take control in a rigged system.

Final Words

Dr. Unwin leaves listeners with the hope—and evidence—that it is possible to reverse type 2 diabetes and reclaim health, but the system, environment, and culture are stacked against us. Awareness, honesty, curiosity, and support are the essential tools for change.

“What if today was the fattest you're gonna be? Take a private photo of yourself, honestly... And that would help motivate you. Then if you felt the Doritos are calling to me, you get out your photo and think, that is not me.” (97:17)

Peter and Dr. Unwin commit to a six-month follow-up to see if these insights can translate into real transformation—not just for Peter, but for anyone ready to break the cycle.

For more resources and to follow the journey, see show notes and connect with Dr. David Unwin and the Public Health Collaboration.