In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Eric Ravussin, PhD, explains the physiology of energy expenditure, metabolic adaptation, and why the body strongly defends its prior weight. Drawing on decades of research, including the Biggest Loser study, CALERIE, and work with metabolic chambers, Ravussin walks through what actually happens when we lose weight—and why willpower alone isn’t enough.
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In this episode, we cover:
🎙 What Dr. Eric Ravussin & Mike Haney discuss:
[04:40] — Rethinking obesity diagnosis
[07:00] — Clinical vs. preclinical obesity
[11:38] — What ‘energy expenditure’ actually means
[15:42] — What metabolic adaptation really is
[17:56] — Why bigger bodies burn more calories
[26:16] — Lessons from the Biggest Loser study
[31:19] — What CALERIE taught us about calorie restriction
[40:02] — Why slow, modest weight loss matters
[45:10] — Weight loss vs. weight maintenance physiology
[53:08] — GLP-1 drugs: promise and limitations
[57:49] — Why you can’t exercise your way to weight loss
[1:01:33] — The biggest myth about obesity
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Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/UaE0C_l7GMw
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 More about Dr. Eric Ravussin: https://www.pbrc.edu/research-and-faculty/faculty/Ravussin-Eric-PhD.aspx