Do you calorie count? You’re not alone. It’s a multi-billionaire dollar industry for weight loss, nutrition labelling and of course mandated on food packaging in most countries. Calorie counts are hard to miss. But how accurate are they?

Giles Yeo is a geneticist with over 20 years' experience dedicated to researching obesity and the brain control of food intake. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge and assisted the pioneering research that uncovered key pathways in how the brain controls food intake. His current research focuses on understanding how these pathways differ from person to person, and the influence of genetics in our relationship with food and eating habits. Giles also moonlights as a science presenter for the BBC and you will no doubt recognise him from a string of programmes.

We talk about:

The Inaccuracies of calorie measurement

Our lack of understanding about the composition of food

The impact of individual differences

Other determinants of weight control

How we got to the calorie calculations

How we expend energy - through BMR (basal metabolic rate), physical activity and dietary thermogenesis

As well as why protein is more satiating

His fantastic 8-part podcast series ‘Dr Giles Yeo Chews the Fat’ is also available to listen to online, featuring myself as well as the Van Tullekens, Adam Rutherford.

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