Let’s debunk some “dieting” myths by exploring our human machinery. And talk about Brazilian butt lifts. Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and metabolism researcher Dr. Herman Pontzer gives us the data on mitochondrial backstories, muscle mass and hormones, our expanding brains, the flaws of the Body Mass Index, humans’ relationships with nutrition, why crash dieting can change your metabolism, perspectives on sticky medical terms, isotope magic, how much exercise hunter gatherers get, carnivore diets, scales, and what to do if you're grappling with sadness. Content warning: we discuss diet culture, calories, how the word “obesity” is used, medical conditions that may relate to body composition, and highlight listeners’ lived experiences.
Visit the Pontzer Lab website
Browse Dr. Pontzer’s papers on ResearchGate and follow him on Instagram and X
Buy Dr. Pontzer’s book, Burn: New Research Blows the Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Stay Healthy, and Lose Weight
A donation went to Hadza Fund
More episode sources and links
Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes
Other episodes you may enjoy: Pyrotechnology (FIREMAKING), Entomophagy Anthropology (EATING BUGS), Kalology (BEAUTY STANDARDS), Genicular Traumatology (BAD KNEES)
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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions
Transcripts by Aveline Malek and The Wordary
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer
Theme song by Nick Thorburn
Foraging Ecology (EATING WILD PLANTS) Encore with @BlackForager, Alexis Nikole Nelson
Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 2 with Rosemary Mosco
Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 1 with Rosemary Mosco
Smologies #42: TREES with J. Casey Clapp
Field Trip: I Chased the 2024 Eclipse with Umbraphiles
Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) with India Jackson and Michael Kirk
Smologies #41: PELICANS with Juita Martinez
Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) with Paul Rozin
Field Trip: Alie’s Mystery Surgery!
Smologies #40: HAIR with Valerie Horsley
Oikology (DECLUTTERING) Encore with Jamie & Filip Hord + Joe Ferrari
Functional Morphology (ANATOMY) Encore with Joy Reidenberg
Smologies #39: ANCIENT ROME with Darius Arya
Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!) Part 2 with Ronald Gamble, Jr.
Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!) Part 1 with Ronald Gamble, Jr.
Smologies #38: CARNIVORES with Rae Wynn-Grant
Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS) with Elizabeth Congdon
Theoretical & Creative Ecology (SCIENCE & ECOPOETRY) with Madhur Anand
Smologies #37: PROTEINS + DNA with Raven “The Science Maven” Baxter
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