Iron Culture presented by MASS Ep 351 - New Research on Constrained Model and NSAIDs
Oct 29, 2025
Dive into cutting-edge fitness research with insights on the constrained energy expenditure model and its recent critiques. Discover how NSAIDs impact muscle growth, with new findings revealing potential benefits and risks for athletes. The hosts also explore international PhD structures, highlighting the fascinating differences in programs across countries. From metabolic adaptations during pregnancy to the intriguing world of thesis publication, this discussion blends science with practical advice for fitness enthusiasts and aspiring researchers alike.
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Body Caps Long-Term Energy Expenditure
- The constrained energy-expenditure model suggests total daily energy expenditure plateaus despite huge increases in physical activity. This arises because the body downregulates other energy components to keep expenditure within a workable range.
High Activity Doesn’t Always Mean Massive Burn
- Subsistence and ultra-endurance populations burn far fewer calories than naive estimates after adjusting for body size. The constrained model explains similar expenditures via adaptive reductions in other physiological processes.
Intake Matters When Testing Constraint
- A linear plot of activity vs TEE in one PNAS paper doesn't falsify the constrained model if energy intake and availability aren't considered. Constraint appears mainly when intake cannot fully replace activity-driven demand.