The obesity epidemic currently facing the nation and most of the rest of the world is reaching a critical point. Chronic disease is rampant as a result of the escalating obesity rate, and for the first time in over a century, the newest generation will be the first to have a lower life expectancy than the last. Not only are adults getting fatter and fatter but so are our children. Yet there are more diets and exercise programs available than ever before. So many people are chronically trying to lose weight, and yet the obesity rate climbs. There seems to be a piece missing from the puzzle.

In her new book, The Skinny Gut Diet, Brenda Watson, C.N.C. reveals your inner weight loss secret. She uncovers why you are not entirely responsible for your weight gain. She calls it the gut factor—the underlying reason you can’t lose weight or can’t keep weight off. It has to do with the trillions of bacteria inside your gut and whether they are in balance or out of balance.

Inside your digestive tract are 100 trillion bacteria, which is 10 times more than the number of cells that make up your entire body! These bacteria play a crucial role in not only your digestive and immune health, but also your overall health—and most notably, your weight. Each of us has a unique balance of bacteria that either protects us and keeps us healthy or leaves us susceptible to disease. That same balance can contribute to either weight gain or to weight loss. When your gut bacteria are out of balance, you gain weight. Conversely, when you balance your gut by eating the right foods (and by avoiding the wrong foods), you lose weight, reduce cravings, ditch digestive upsets, boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and feel great.

At the heart of digestive balance we find good bacteria: the beneficial microbes found in a healthy digestive tract that works in myriad ways to keep you healthy. By eating living foods—those foods that contain good bacteria (also called probiotics) and foods that feed these good bacteria—you will balance your gut and finally be able to achieve the lasting weight loss you have been seeking.

Brenda delves into the inner world of your digestive tract in a fascinating and entertaining read. Learn about how your gut became out of balance in the first place and what you can do to get it back on track so that you can reach your ideal weight. You will discover the three simple rules that make eating healthy easy and delicious. Her simple-to-follow eating plan and over 75 delicious recipes make balancing your gut and losing weight feel like you’re not dieting at all. Along the way, you will follow the stories of ten skinny gut dieters who prove that her diet can be a life-changing transformation for you, too.

The Skinny Gut Diet is a lifestyle that will transform your health by giving you the tools to eat well for your gut, so that you can finally lose weight and feel great. You will learn how to eat foods that nourish you and the population of beneficial bacteria within you. If you have ever struggled with weight gain and dieting, yet never realized that your approach was all wrong, this book is for you.

Watch for the corresponding Public Television Show, Skinny Gut, Vibrant You, coming at the end of November and airing through December!