Marc Bates, MPH, has released a YouTube video presenting research that connects three major health epidemics through a unified theory of metabolic dysfunction. The metabolic health coach argues that obesity, diabetes, and autism spectrum disorders are not separate conditions but manifestations of the same underlying cellular energy crisis.

According to Bates, insulin resistance affects up to 85% of American adults and serves as the primary driver behind these seemingly unrelated health conditions. His analysis reveals that mitochondrial dysfunction, triggered by modern dietary patterns, creates cascading metabolic disruptions that manifest differently based on individual genetic vulnerabilities.

"Insulin resistance is a unifying feature of chronic disease," Bates states in the video. "Whether it's the body or the brain, the same dysfunctional metabolic bottleneck is present."

The research challenges conventional medical approaches that treat these conditions as separate diseases requiring different specialists and treatments. Bates argues that current dietary guidelines promoting high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets have actually accelerated the crisis by creating chronic hyperinsulinemia.

The video cites alarming statistics showing 74% of adults are overweight or obese, over half are diabetic or pre-diabetic, and autism rates have increased from 1 in 150 to 1 in 36 children. Bates connects these trends to the widespread consumption of processed foods and seed oils that impair mitochondrial function.

"We don't need three separate solutions. We need one: fix the metabolism," Bates explains, advocating for metabolic recalibration through low-carbohydrate, animal-based nutrition as a comprehensive approach to addressing multiple chronic conditions simultaneously.