Agreed, it reads like the same faddish, pseudo-science the author purports to debunk. "I tried all the diet books, and none of them worked, but finally here's one that does, because SCIENCE!"
It's the same old shopping channel and sideshow sales pitch people have peddling for hundreds of years, except it tries to play on a mark's trust for scientific authority instead of religious belief or new age mysticism, the same way some magicians pass off classic tricks as clever mentalism by exploiting people's belief in the power of modern psychology.
And the actual obesity cure it outlines is the same as every other mainstream diet: Reorient your whole life around planning, purchasing, preparing, eating and recording a weighed, calorie counted, macro-nutrient balanced diet, and try to get some more exercise as well.
Most people, particular in those groups most risk of obesity - those poor in time and money - will never be able to adopt such a strategy. Consider a single parent trying to raise three or four kids, while working a couple of jobs, and travelling everywhere via long public transport journeys. There's no way that they're going to be do all this.
Processed food is successful because it:
- is cheap
- tastes good
- is easy to acquire
- is easy to prepare
Any solution to widespread obesity needs to provide a source of healthy food that at the very least matches processed food in these regards.