Why Am I Not Losing Weight? The Truth About Fat Loss With Professor Giles Yeo
Feb 3, 2025
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Professor Giles Yeo, a molecular neuroendocrinologist from the University of Cambridge, reveals the complexities behind obesity and its health implications. He discusses why weight gain is easy, yet weight loss is a challenge, emphasizing biological and genetic factors. Yeo explores the impact of childhood obesity and aging on health, and whether blood glucose monitoring can aid in weight loss. He also sheds light on the role of medications like Ozempic, advocating for a holistic approach that combines lifestyle changes with medical interventions.
Obesity is a complex issue influenced by factors like genetics, impacting how individuals accumulate fat and their overall health risks.
Understanding body shape, particularly the dangers of visceral fat versus subcutaneous fat, is crucial for personalized health approaches.
A holistic approach to weight management should emphasize nutrient-dense foods, portion sizes, and exercise to prevent weight regain.
Deep dives
Understanding Obesity
Obesity is a complex public health issue affecting a significant portion of the population, with over 27% of adults being classified as obese. Traditionally measured by BMI (Body Mass Index), obesity is more accurately described as carrying an excess of body fat that negatively impacts health. The conversation emphasizes moving away from idealistic body standards and public judgment around weight towards understanding the specific risks associated with obesity. Key health risks linked to obesity include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and various forms of cancer, indicating that the detrimental effects come from how and where fat is stored in the body.
Role of Genetics in Obesity
Genetics play a crucial role in determining how individuals store fat and their susceptibility to obesity. Studies reveal that while the typical BMI cutoffs serve as a general guideline for evaluating obesity, they do not account for individual variations in fat storage capacity. People have different genetic predispositions that dictate their ability to safely store fat, leading to differing risks of obesity-related diseases. For instance, some populations naturally handle greater amounts of body fat without experiencing the same health risks as others, illustrating the need for personalized assessments.
The Importance of Body Shape
Body shape is a significant aspect of health that often gets overshadowed by the focus on overall weight. Visceral fat, which is stored around vital organs, is particularly harmful and is linked to serious health conditions like metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. In contrast, subcutaneous fat, which lies just beneath the skin, tends to be less harmful. Understanding one’s unique body shape rather than merely relying on weight can help tailor personal health approaches and emphasize better health outcomes.
Nutrition and Obesity Management
The food environment plays a critical role in obesity and weight management, as poor dietary choices often lead to obesity. The podcast underscores the necessity of focusing on nutrient-dense foods, such as those high in fiber and protein, which can aid in feeling full and satisfied. It discusses the importance of understanding portion sizes and the quality of food consumed rather than solely focusing on calorie reduction. Successful weight management relies on holistic approaches that encompass dietary education, gradual changes in eating habits, and community-wide structural shifts to promote healthier food access.
Exercise and Weight Maintenance
Exercise is highlighted as a vital component of maintaining a healthy weight, especially after initial weight loss. While traditional views have linked exercise primarily to weight loss, its greater role may be in preventing weight regain by counteracting the body’s natural predisposition to regain lost weight. Resistance training is particularly emphasized for its importance in maintaining muscle mass and enhancing metabolic rate. A well-rounded fitness approach, which includes both aerobic and resistance exercises, supports overall health and can counterbalance the challenges posed by biologically driven hunger and food-seeking behaviors.
If being overweight is bad for us, why is it so easy to gain weight and so hard to lose weight? Taking how we look out of it, is being overweight or obese really as bad for our health as we are led to believe? And why may this be the case?
In this episode of Vision of Health, Professor Giles Yeo MBE, a world renowned weight-loss scientist spills the tea on why storing too much fat is bad for us, and what we can do about it.
Giles a Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge, who has been researching the science behind body weight and feeding behaviours for the last 25 years. He has a PhD from the University of Cambridge, is a two time author of pivotal books on obesity and genetics, and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2020 birthday honours, for his commitment to research on this topic
You may also know Giles from the TV where he’s featured in many documentaries on the topic!
This episode covers:
What obesity actually is and how it impacts our health
The science behind body size vs body shape
Why is it so easy to put on weight, but challenging to lose weight
How to lose weight and keep it off
Whether obesity is due to genetics or diet
Why we have different relationships with food
The impact of childhood obesity on future health
How ageing affects fat loss/How to age safely
Key differences between men and women
Whether blood glucose monitoring is a useful tool for weight loss