Energy Demands of Pregnancy

This chapter explores the significant increase in energy expenditure during pregnancy compared to non-pregnant individuals, illustrating the metabolic challenges faced. It also connects these physiological changes to broader themes of energy management, health, and the risks of conditions like Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome in both pregnant individuals and athletes.

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My guest is Dr. Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, known for his research on human bioenergetics, particularly energy expenditure and the exercise paradox. We discuss his work comparing highly active hunter-gatherer groups to more sedentary cultures, exploring their total energy expenditure and the surprising similarities.

We examine the impact of factors such as age, sex, exercise, and pregnancy on daily energy expenditure. We also break down whether diet or exercise plays a greater role in weight management and weight loss.

Additionally, we explore how genetics and the environment interact to shape human physiology, highlighting how population-level findings often overlook individual variation and emphasizing the need for medical and diagnostic practices to account for this diversity.

Read the full episode show notes at performpodcast.com.