Want to lose weight? You need to eat less of everything! Leading geneticist comes up with strikingly simple advice for the perfect diet
- Geneticist Giles Yeo has six top tips for losing weight in his new book
- The Cambridge tutor said dieters should not cut out whole food groups
- He told Hay Festival eating less of everything is key and we should not fear food
Whether it’s the Atkins or the Paleo diet, many weight watchers have agonised over ways to slim down.
But now a leading geneticist has come up with a very simple solution to dieting – saying we should eat less of everything and not ‘blindly’ count calories.
Giles Yeo, a tutor at Cambridge University, has offered his six top tips for losing weight in his book ‘Gene Eating: The Science of Obesity and the Truth About Diets.
Giles Yeo, a tutor at Cambridge University, recommends eating less of everything and not counting calories
He said at the Hay Festival that dieters need to accept weight loss is ‘difficult’, but achievable if they ‘chip away at it a little bit at a time’.
His second tip is to ‘eat less of everything’ – but not to cut out certain food groups unless you have an allergy.
He said: ‘Don’t demonise and exclude whole food groups, unless medically warranted. Too much of anything is bad, and too little of anything is also bad.’
Mr Yeo said he once spent 29 days on a vegan diet and lost 10lb (4kg) while eating as much as he wanted. Meanwhile his blood cholesterol dropped by 12 per cent.
The geneticist said dieters need to accept weight loss is ‘difficult’, but achievable if they ‘chip away at it a little bit at a time’
Some of his other tips include eating food that takes longer to digest, because it makes you feel fuller, and avoiding blindly counting calories.
‘Food that takes longer to digest will travel further down the gut and make you feel fuller,’ he added. He also advises eating more unsaturated fats, including avocado, nuts and olive oil.
All in all, he said ‘don’t fear food’, saying it is ‘better to understand food better and work with it, rather than be afraid of it’.
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Popular Questions
What does the advice to eat less of everything mean if you want to lose weight?
The idea is to reduce overall food intake rather than eliminating one specific nutrient or food group. Smaller portions, fewer snacks, and less high-calorie food can lower total calorie intake while keeping meals varied. Make gradual reductions so the eating pattern is practical enough to maintain.
How can someone follow the “eat less of everything” approach to lose weight?
Start by serving slightly smaller portions at each meal and waiting a few minutes before deciding whether you are still hungry. Use smaller plates, measure calorie-dense ingredients such as oils and sauces, and limit unplanned snacking. Keeping a simple food record for several days can reveal where modest reductions will be easiest.
Does eating less of everything mean cutting out carbohydrates, fat, or other food groups?
No, the advice focuses on reducing the total amount eaten rather than banning carbohydrates, fats, or other major food groups. A balanced diet can include vegetables, fruit, protein foods, whole grains, and healthy fats in sensible portions. Cutting out entire categories may make the plan harder to follow and can reduce dietary variety.
Why might a simple reduction in food intake help with weight loss?
Body weight is influenced by the balance between energy consumed and energy used, so consistently eating fewer calories can support gradual weight loss. Reducing portions across the diet may be easier than relying on strict rules about individual foods. Track progress over several weeks and adjust portions carefully if weight is not changing.