#76 Dr. John Speakman - The Evolution of Body Fatness

In this episode of The Muscle Memoirs, I am joined by Dr. John Speakman to discuss the evolution of body fatness. We cover if there is an evolutionary advantage to obesity, different models of body weight regulation, human predisposition to sedentary behavior, and more.

John runs two research groups: one in Beijing China, and one in Aberdeen, Scotland. His work focuses on energy balance - the factors that govern variation in food intake and energy expenditure, and the consequences for fat storage (obesity) and other physiological parameters such as oxidative stress and aging. This includes studies in free-living and captive animals and humans. John's work stretches from the gene to the individual and increasingly includes a systems biology perspective. His lab has particular expertise in using isotopes to measure aspects of energy metabolism. More specifically, daily energy expenditure using the doubly labeled water method.

References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31830...
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/1...
https://jeb.biologists.org/content/22...


Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:50 From an evolutionary perspective, why would humans possess the capacity to become severely obese?
07:30 Shortcomings of the thrifty gene hypothesis
15:10 Limitations of the set point and settling point models
24:20 Dual-intervention point model
28:50 Predation risk
36:45 The critical role of the brain in understanding obesity
41:15 Genetics vs. environment in the development of obesity
44:15 It's not just willpower
47:25 Human proclivity to sedentary behavior: an evolutionary perspective
50:35 How do we motivate the public to become more physically active?


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