Summary

Dr. Herman Pontzer of Duke is on the show this week to talk about human metabolism and his new book, Burn. He helps answer questions like: How much energy can a person burn in one day? Does exercise help you lose weight? Do people with different subsistence strategies have different metabolisms? We also talk about his work with the Hadza.

Recommendations

• What you can read to learn more:
  • Burn: New Research Blows the Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Lose Weight, and Stay Healthy by Herman Pontzer (Penguin Random House, 2021)
  • Articles by Herman Pontzer (ctrl+F Publications, click on plus sign)
• What he’s reading for work right now:
  • Body by Darwin: How Evolution Shapes Our Health and Transforms Medicine by Jeremy Taylor (University of Chicago Press, 2015)
  • The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson (Penguin Random House, 2021)
  • Energy expenditure scholarly literature
• What he’s consuming for fun right now:
  • Trails around his house