logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
29m 21s

Why Our Bodies Fight Us on Losing Weight

CNN
About this episode

Everybody knows losing weight is tough. But why? While diet, exercise, and willpower might have something to do with it. The root may lie in how we humans have evolved as a species. Could our bodies be hardwired to resist shedding pounds? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to Daniel Lieberman, a paleoanthropologist and professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University. He’ll explain how our bodies evolved to hold onto fat as a strategy for survival. Plus, we'll get tips for exercising and eating right, with our evolutionary needs in mind.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Jul 8
Do We All Have a ‘Cancer Gene’?
After losing both parents to bone cancer, one listener wants to know what that means for their own risk. Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks it down—then tackles another question millions wonder about: Is taking a sleep pill every night worse than waking up over and over again? Learn more ab ... Show More
18m 16s
Jul 4
How Surgeons Balance Hope with Honesty
Every day, in hospitals across the country, surgeons make countless life-or-death decisions. For those who operate on children, those stakes can feel even higher. Dr. David Sandberg, author of “Brain and Heart: The Triumphs and Struggles of a Pediatric Neurosurgeon,” sits down wi ... Show More
33m 19s
Jul 1
A Doctor-Approved Guide to the Sun This Summer
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here with your summer sunlight guide — exactly when it’s safe to soak up some unfiltered sun, how to truly protect your eyes, and sunscreen mistakes you might be making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
16m 42s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Why It’s Normal to Dislike Exercise
Daniel Lieberman is a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and the author of the new book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding. Today, he joins host Elise Loehnen to break down the history and science behind why so many ... Show More
55m 14s
Apr 2024
What Evolutionary Biology Can Teach Us About Diet, Exercise, and Staying Alive
What can the science of ancient humans and the lifestyle of hunter-gatherers teach us about how to be healthy today? Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman joins the show to talk about his provocative “mismatch theory,” why humans are dysevolved for the modern world, and ... Show More
51m 52s
May 2023
217. How to lose weight
This week, Paul is re-sharing a popular episode about how to lose weight, healthily. He first speaks on how not to lose weight and why he believes the mainstream paradigm for weight loss is flawed. He dives into what he believes makes humans fat in the first place, actionable ste ... Show More
1h 6m
Apr 2024
TMHS 786 - Fasted Vs. Fed Training & How to Prevent Muscle Loss - With Alan Aragon
There are many pervasive myths in the health and fitness space. It’s no wonder so many folks are confused about fat loss, building muscle, and how to eat in a way that supports their goals. This is why it’s critical that you obtain your information from a science-backed resource, ... Show More
1h 22m
Mar 2024
The Real Cause of Belly Fat, How To Fix Your Metabolism & Why Your Liver Is More Important Than You Think with Professor Robert Lustig #432
Twenty percent of obese people are in metabolically great health. Meanwhile sixty percent of supposedly ‘healthy’ weight people are metabolically unwell and at risk of a host of chronic diseases. With this in mind, do we need to change our thinking about what ‘being fat’ really m ... Show More
2h 3m
Mar 2015
The Psychology of Weight Loss
The American Psychological Association says the major aspect of weight control involves understanding and managing thoughts and behaviors that can interfere with weight loss. Where do those thoughts and behaviors come from? Until you get the correct food and nutrition, your brain ... Show More
42m 40s
Mar 2024
2479: Why Am I Not Getting Leaner? by Nancy Clark of Nancy Clark RD on Weight Loss, Body Composition & Metabolism
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2479:Nancy Clark addresses the common dilemma of not getting leaner despite strict dieting and exercise, in her article on N ... Show More
10m 57s
May 2021
Why We Need to See Health at Every Size
“Social inequity is probably the biggest driver of health,” says Lindo Bacon, PhD, author of Health at Every Size, Body Respect, and Radical Belonging. “And if we don’t address the social determinants of health, then we end up blaming the individuals and putting the onus on them ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2023
2187: Why Building Muscle Is More Important Than Losing Fat With Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
In this episode Sal, Adam & Justin speak to Dr. Gabrielle Lyon about the role muscle plays in overall health and longevity. We are not overfat but under-muscled. (1:57) What makes muscle so protective as an organ? (4:51) Why are doctors so slow to change their paradigm of thinkin ... Show More
1h 42m
Jan 2024
The Crucial Importance of Strength Training, How To Make Healthy Habits Stick & Living a Strong & Healthy Life with Dr Gabrielle Lyon #418
My guest today believes that the single biggest problem with our health these days is not that we carry too much fat but that we don’t carry enough muscle. She believes that if we start to focus and prioritise our largest organ – our muscle – we can burn more fat, improve our bod ... Show More
1h 35m