In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nicolas Verhoeven of Physionic. We focus our attention on metabolic health and, specifically, the energy-related, cellular, and nutritional mechanisms of insulin resistance. Nicolas reviews evidence pertaining to the reversal of insulin resistance and dietary clinical trials demonstrating rem…

In this episode, we discuss polarized training, which includes high-volume low intensity training and high-intensity training. We review the scientific literature pertaining to endurance performance, mechanisms of recovery debt, adaptations to various exercise modalities, and developing training programs around polarized training. MAF-180: https://…

Does muscle loss occur in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (marketed as "Ozempic" and "Wegovy") or combined GLP-1/GIP agonists like tirzepatide (marketed as "Mounjaro")? In this episode, we discuss current evidence regarding these next-generation weight loss drugs and muscle wasting, as well as principles of preventing musc…

How do drugs like Ozempic (semaglutide) cause weight loss? In this episode, we discuss how these drugs (GLP-1 receptor agonists) target specific areas in the brain to suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss. We also discuss clinical trials data suggesting that these drugs and/or the weight loss that they facilitate may have cardioprotective ef…

Highly processed foods have been shown to lead to weight gain and are thought to drive intake through several mechanisms. Recent research suggests that the effect of combining fats and carbs on appetite might be more than the sum of their individual effects. Highly processed foods, accordingly, might simulate increased intake via the ratio of macro…

Growing scientific evidence suggests that highly processed foods are associated with increased risk of disease. Until recently, scientists were unable to study directly the effects of highly processed foods on humans. In this episode, we review one of the first highly controlled scientific trials demonstrating that ultra-processed foods lead to wei…

In this episode, we discuss how overeating can lead to inflammation and neuron dysfunction in specific parts of the brain that control appetite and energy regulation. We review the neuroscience of appetite regulation, energy expenditure, and body fat regulation. Topics include hypothalamic dysfunction of body fat regulation, leptin resistance, neur…

Is it possible to be metabolically healthy and overweight or obese? In this episode, we discuss the science of what makes fat healthy or unhealthy. We discuss how metabolic dysfunction in fat tissue can affect the rest of the body. We also review evidence pertaining to the "obesity paradox" and explore explanations for the associations of body mass…

In this episode, we discuss fat through the lens of performance and survival, and what happens when we push our energy systems to their limits. We also talk about how our bodies make adaptations via exercise to improve our ability to "burn" fat for fuel, and how our bodies conserve fuel during times of negative energy balance. Lastly, we preview th…

This is our first episode on weight gain and weight loss. In this episode, we describe how, as an industrialized nation, our food supply and environment have changed in a way that, in many cases, is mismatched with our biology as humans. We explore how these changes can lead to disease and metabolic dysfunction. We discuss how the replacement of wh…