EconTalk Eating with Intelligence (with Julia Belluz)
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Sep 29, 2025 
Health journalist Julia Belluz, author of Food Intelligence, dives into the complexities of weight loss and nutrition. She challenges the simplistic view of calories, explaining how metabolic rates can slow significantly post-dieting. Belluz discusses the role of environmental factors in shaping eating habits, highlighting how ultra-processed foods contribute to health issues. She advocates for governmental intervention to promote healthier choices, urging a compassionate understanding of personal agency in food decisions.
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Biggest Loser Study Surprise
- Kevin Hall studied The Biggest Loser contestants' metabolisms during the show and again six years later.
- The biggest initial losers had the largest metabolic slowdown and regained much of their weight despite persistent metabolic suppression.
What Metabolic Rate Means
- Metabolic rate equals the rate of chemical reactions powering every bodily function.
- Losing weight reduces energy needs, but some people slow their metabolism more than expected for their new size.
Body's Dynamic Feedback
- The body reacts dynamically to changes like calorie cuts or more exercise through homeostatic feedback.
- That reaction often undermines simple 'eat less, exercise more' expectations for steady weight loss.
