Obesity Resistance & Leanness | Episode 284

About this episode

This episode explores the biology of obesity resistance and the factors influencing weight gain in humans and animals, alongside historical and cultural perspectives on body fat.

Send us Fan Mail Biology of obesity resistance and factors influencing weight gain in humans and animals. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Historical views on obesity: In some cultures, like northern Africa or Stone Age societies, high body fat signaled status or attractiveness due to food scarcity, unlike today’s focus on leanness amid calorie abundance.Energy balance components: Metabolizable energy (95% absorption on average, but varying 1-11%) and unabsorbed nutrients excreted as waste significantly inf...

People in this episode

Host: Nick Jikomes

Topics covered

• obesity resistance
• weight gain
• energy balance
• historical views on obesity
• cultural perceptions of body fat

Keywords

• obesity
• weight gain
• energy balance
• cultural perceptions
• body fat
• metabolizable energy
• nutrient absorption

Mentioned in this episode

Places: northern Africa

More episodes of Mind & Matter

• Fructose Metabolism in Obesity, Dementia, Evolution | Richard Johnson | Episode 295 · June 4, 2026 · 1h 36m
• How to Lie With Science: Seed Oils & Inflammation | Livestream 1 · May 27, 2026 · 1h 13m
• Ancestry & Genetic Diversity in Human Fat Metabolism: Seed Oils & Omega Fats | Floyd Chilton | Episode 294 · May 22, 2026 · 1h 52m
• Pregnenolone & Corticosteroids in Brain Health | Sherwood Brown | Episode 293 · May 15, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Omega Fats & ω-3 Supplements in Human Health | Bill Harris | Episode 292 · May 8, 2026 · 1h 46m
• Omega Polyunsaturated Fats in Inflammation | Philip Calder | Episode 291 · May 1, 2026 · 1h 55m