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cover of episode Dr. Herman Pontzer: How We Really Burn Calories & Lose Weight

Dr. Herman Pontzer: How We Really Burn Calories & Lose Weight

2025/3/12
logo of podcast Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin

Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin

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Herman Pontzer
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Herman Pontzer: 我是进化人类学家,研究人类能量消耗和新陈代谢。我的研究表明,狩猎采集人群的每日总能量消耗与久坐人群相似,这挑战了传统观点。肥胖问题主要源于能量摄入过多,而非能量消耗不足。运动对体重减轻的影响有限,但对其他健康指标有益。人体会通过调节基础代谢率、睡眠代谢率等方式来维持能量平衡。我们需要更全面地了解人体系统间的相互作用,以及个体差异对能量代谢的影响。 在怀孕期间,女性的能量消耗会显著增加,但这种增加受到生理限制。长期高强度运动也会导致能量消耗的调节,甚至可能出现相对能量不足综合征(REDs)。我们需要考虑个体差异,避免将群体平均值应用于个体。 年龄和性别对能量消耗的影响有限,中年人的新陈代谢率不会显著下降。青春期能量消耗较高,老年期则会下降。我们需要关注个体差异,避免将群体平均值应用于个体。 遗传和环境共同作用决定个体差异。基因检测并不能完全预测个体的健康状况,我们需要更全面地考虑个体差异。 Andy Galpin: 作为一名运动表现科学家,我与Herman Pontzer博士的讨论让我对能量消耗和新陈代谢有了更深入的理解。我们探讨了狩猎采集人群的能量消耗、运动对体重减轻的影响、以及人体如何调节能量平衡等问题。Herman Pontzer博士的研究结果表明,肥胖问题主要源于能量摄入过多,而非能量消耗不足。运动固然有益,但其对体重减轻的影响有限。我们需要更全面地了解人体系统间的相互作用,以及个体差异对能量代谢的影响。

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Chapters
This chapter defines energy expenditure as the total energy your body burns daily. It debunks the myth that activity is the primary driver, highlighting the role of various bodily functions. The discussion uses the surprising finding from hunter-gatherer studies to illustrate how the body regulates energy expenditure.
  • Energy expenditure is the sum of energy used by all 37 trillion cells.
  • Most calories are burned on functions other than physical activity.
  • The body maintains a relatively consistent daily energy expenditure regardless of activity level.

Shownotes Transcript

My guest is Dr. Herman Pontzer, Ph.D.), a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, known for his research on human bioenergetics, particularly energy expenditure and the exercise paradox. We discuss his work comparing highly active hunter-gatherer groups to more sedentary cultures, exploring their total energy expenditure and the surprising similarities.

We examine the impact of factors such as age, sex, exercise, and pregnancy on daily energy expenditure. We also break down whether diet or exercise plays a greater role in weight management and weight loss.

Additionally, we explore how genetics and the environment interact to shape human physiology, highlighting how population-level findings often overlook individual variation and emphasizing the need for medical and diagnostic practices to account for this diversity.

Read the full episode show notes at performpodcast.com).

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Dr. Herman Pontzer

00:01:18 Energy Expenditure & Metabolism

00:03:59 Hunter-Gatherers, Energy Expenditure vs Sedentary Cultures

00:07:19 What is Energy Expenditure?; Maintaining Energy Budget

00:13:42 Sponsors: David Protein & LMNT

00:16:23 Weight Gain; Calories In, Calories Out

00:22:18 Exercise & Calories Burned, Energy Expenditure Changes?

00:29:56 Movement Efficiency, Exercise & Metabolism Research

00:37:55 Metabolic Recalibration & Exercise Threshold

00:43:33 Hunter-Gatherer Groups, Energy Expenditure, Fertility

00:47:23 Sponsors: AG1 & Renaissance Periodization

00:49:53 Pregnancy & Energy; Overtraining, Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome (REDs)

00:57:37 Metabolism “Slowing Down”, Age or Sex Differences?

01:04:22 Metabolism & Age, Puberty, Older Adults

01:11:51 Body Composition, Individual Food Intake

01:16:49 Sponsor: Eight Sleep

01:18:12 Anthropology, Natural Fallacy, Diversity & Adaptations, Physical Activity

01:27:59 Population, Individual Variation, Diversity, Race

01:34:33 Kidney, eGFR Calculation; Clinical Equations & Race

01:40:51 Genetics, Diversity, Populations; Genetic Testing

01:49:29 One-to-One Gene Fallacy, Height, Environment, Diversity

01:51:20 Height & Weight, Genetics & Environment Interplay

01:56:31 Science Literacy & Research; Diabetes, Heart Disease & Race

02:02:33 Diversity, Physiology & Medicine, EMT

02:07:08 Upcoming Projects, Metabolic Ceilings

02:09:39 Metabolism, Diet & Exercise, Individual Approach

02:14:57 Crash Metabolism?, Herman’s Links

02:17:30 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Subscribe & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Social Media, Perform Newsletter

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