Peter Attia MD197 - The science of obesity & how to improve nutritional epidemiology | David Allison, Ph.D
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- February 28, 2022
- Duration
- 2h 21m
- Channel
- Peter Attia MD
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
View episode show notes here: https://bit.ly/3HgjLMf Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://bit.ly/4c602k2 David Allison is an award-winning scientific writer who has been at the forefront of obesity research for the last 20 years. Currently the Dean of the Indiana University School of Public Health, he has also authored many publications on statistical and research methodology and how to improve research rigor and integrity. David’s focus on evidence and data brings forth an interesting discussion of what we know (and don’t know) about the science of obesity. He provides an insightful and unemotional explanation of the potential impact of nutritional epidemiology in public health while also explaining its many pitfalls and limitations. He offers his take on the path forward in addressing the obesity epidemic, and he closes with a lucid explanation for the evident lack of credibility in science and the steps we can take to change that. We discuss: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:10 - David’s background, interest in obesity, and focus on evidence 00:08:44 - The moment when the obesity crisis was recognized, and the sloppy science that ensued 00:17:11 - What twins studies tell us about the genetics of obesity 00:20:36 - How doctors and scientists have historically approached obesity treatment 00:28:45 - Do surgical procedures for obesity prolong life? 00:34:08 - The ‘Obesity Paradox’ 00:41:48 - Interpreting BMI and mortality data and considering confounders 00:49:54 - How body composition and ethnicity factor into consideration of BMI data 00:57:12 - Superior tools for measuring obesity at the individual level 01:02:31 - Using BMI data for actionable steps to combat obesity 01:06:55 - Why maintaining weight loss is more challenging than losing weight 01:18:44 - Differing perspectives on the utility of nutritional epidemiology 01:25:08 - A mouse study illustrating the impossibility of fully controlling for confounds in observational studies 01:29:59 - Limitations of nutritional epidemiology and how it can improve 01:42:06 - Addressing the obesity epidemic—the path forward and obstacles to overcome 01:53:28 - What David believes to be the most promising interventions we could take to address obesity and improve public health 01:57:45 - Reproducibility in science, normative and non-normative errors explained 02:05:27 - Rebuilding trust in science and differentiating between science and advocacy -------- About: The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 40 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life). Learn more: https://bit.ly/36Fzacz Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://bit.ly/3peEnyh Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://bit.ly/36toqxK Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGoogle
SPEAKERS
Peter Attia
hostPhysician and host of “The Drive” podcast focused on longevity, medicine, and health science.
David Allison
guestObesity and nutrition researcher (Ph.D.) known for work on nutritional epidemiology, study design, and scientific rigor.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Peter Attia MD, featuring Peter Attia and David Allison, 197 - The science of obesity & how to improve nutritional epidemiology | David Allison, Ph.D explores david Allison on Obesity Science, Flawed Epidemiology, and Separating Science From Advocacy Allison explains how obesity research shifted from a physiology-led field to a public health and environmental framing in the 1990s, gaining funding but losing some rigor.
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