Understanding Metabolism: Tools and Techniques for Measuring Energy Expenditure

This chapter focuses on tools and methods for understanding metabolism and energy expenditure, emphasizing the need for accurate data in weight management. It introduces Calorify, a company utilizing scientific techniques to measure total energy expenditure, making this information accessible to everyone.

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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.