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Tip the Scales: Introduction to Body Weight cover art

Tip the Scales: Introduction to Body Weight

By: Dr Giles Yeo,Olly Mann
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  • Summary

  • Losing weight is one of the hardest things you can do and everyone seems to have a solution. There are new diets appearing all the time, new exercise routines, new technologies. So how do we know what to believe and why is it still so damn hard?

    Scientist Dr. Giles Yeo helps podcaster and columnist Olly Mann separate the fact from the fiction. Olly tries to figure out why he's still fat and what he can do about it. They look at the latest science: how genes can affect our weight, how our brains are telling our bodies to keep that fat, and why proteins make you feel fuller for longer. Along the way we'll also hear about Jane Fonda's role in the exercise boom of the 80s, 19th century fat-zapping corsets and when chewing was in vogue.

    This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 6 episodes to your Library now.

    ©2019 Audible, Ltd. (P)2019 Audible, Ltd.
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Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Off the Scale
    Jan 25 2019

    In this episode Olly wants to find out exactly how overweight he is and whether he needs to lose weight for medical reasons. Olly has a full body scan and Dr. Sadaaf Farooqi explains why Body Mass Index is not always a reliable measurement and how being overweight can affect your health.

    Medical historian Louise Foxcroft takes us through how our idea of the ideal body weight has changed over time.

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    19 mins
  • Ep. 2: Born This Way
    Jan 25 2019

    Giles and Olly ask why we are fat: is it because of what we eat, how much we exercise, or is it because of our genes? Italian podcast producer Jonathan Zenti tells us how he gained almost 30kg in one year and why he loves Jane Fonda workout videos.

    New York Times fitness columnist Gretchen Reynolds talks about the start of the exercise boom in the United States and obesity expert Dr. Sadaaf Farooqi explains how she found one of the first genes linked with obesity.

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    20 mins
  • Ep. 3: Quick Fix Fad Diets
    Jan 25 2019

    Olly and Giles explore the world of dieting: what’s the appeal of fad diets and what are the scientific kernels of truth in them? Chef Anthony Warner helps Giles separate the real science from the pseudoscience while cooking. Medical historian Louise Foxcroft tells us about some of the more extreme historical fad diets and Olly contemplates the dangers of quick fixes.

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    25 mins

What listeners say about Tip the Scales: Introduction to Body Weight

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    3 out of 5 stars

Shallow and dismissive, not very useful

Sooo.... I wanted to love this podcast, and it has a lot of strengths. A funny and personable host, interesting banter and science based factoids, and empathy for people who suffer from obesity early on. If I had to rate it on just those superficial things, I would probably have given it 4 or 5 stars.
And yet... |t really falls short, and devolves into fat shaming and a very elitist approach to losing weight. I will try to summarize.
- First off, all the science behind it is already really common knowledge. If you have had ANY interest in losing weight the past few years, you know all this already. From the genetic components (summarized with no depth at all) to the importance of proteins; this is basically what every popular science article begins with.
- Debunking of fad diets (like eating only cabbage soup) is hardly new and not really all that helpful. Just eating eggs won't help? 600 calories a day is bad? Duh.
- The host is a man with a few extra pounds, and really can't relate to the lived experiences of actually obese people. There are only 2 or 3 interviewed -briefly- and they are there more to point out some fact-tidbit instead of telling their story
- Despite claiming to not fatshame, this podcast does. When keeping a food diary, the doctor scolds the host for eating sooooo many muffins (3 a week) and they both agree that is VERY naughty and VERY bad. They also have a hearty laugh about a former client of the doctor, who ate a lot of pizza and other bad stuff. I would not expect a medical professional to publicly ridicule a former client in a podcast.
- Solutions are very shallow, or non-existent (it all comes down to 'do whatever works for you').

So in the end, the podcast boils down to: Genetics screw you over sometimes, eat a good combination of proteins/carbs, eat smaller portions, exercise doesn't help all that much with losing weight but will make you healthier overall, and practice mindful eating. Oh, and if you don't have enough money for proteins in the form of meat, eat a can of tuna or beans. Hardly revolutionary. I think the core of my disappointment in this podcast can be shown by describing the mindful eating bit. It comes down to really listening to your body, noticing when you are actually hungry -or are just bored or thirsty- and start getting in tune with your eating habits by only eating when you are hungry. This is explained by an elite academic, who is very happy with the results it gave her. I guess it will work for a well paid, single professor. However, if you work in shifts or have a set time for lunch at work, have to hustle multiple jobs, have a very tight budget or have a few kids, forget about it. There is no advice given on what to do if your family flat out refuses that can of tuna, on how kids have different schedules then their mom/dads internal hunger-feelings, and how you will end up cooking 4 different meals at different times if you follow this advice and have a family.
Because the podcast starts with touting its own horn ("but what if you don't have time/money, we have a solution") the end result falls really flat.It is like they had a mission statement that was great, but then completely failed to implement it. I would put the fat shaming I described above under this banner too. If you claim to make a podcast that is empathetic and helpful to fat people and then act as if eating THREE muffins a week is a clear example of someone completely out of control with their eating habits, plus have a laugh at a guy who had too much pizza, you are not true to your words and promises.

This podcast is helpful for people who are mildly obese and are thinking about losing weight for the first time, The information can easily be read in 5 minutes by going to any popular science blog and clicking on the 'diet/food' category, though. I don't think the listening time -albeit short- was worth it.

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Non Biased insight into the fitness industry.

A fantastic non-biased insight into the fitness & weight loss industry through a purely scientific point of view with no sell on products.

A quick and revelant overview to show just how much effect what do you is having on what you want to achieve, and otherwise what to change.

Funny and humorous throughout, very engaging and educational.

Delightful narration and nice to listen to (whilst working out of all things!).

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great informative listening

Good engaging listening with good information and facts. Would really recommend to friends and family

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Learned a lot

thank you for making this. I've learned a lot and have much to think about and figure out with my seemingly eternal struggle with my weight.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really helpful

Great to understand ,,in plain English ,some of the many issues and cliches about weight loss. An enjoyable read giving you tools you can put into action.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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great listen

very interesting. it's had opened my eyes about things and maybe not be so hard on myself

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Wow, I learnt so much.

Was actually surprised that I enjoyed this. I comfort eat & am an older woman on a low income who has been overweight most of my life. This was Amazingly informative. Thank You.

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    3 out of 5 stars

no real info given more like an amusing talk show

no real info provided. more like an amusing talk show. the take away is you need tailored plan. surprise!

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Informative, but not enough

Good info, but why just focus on the genes? Why not discuss thyroid problems or diabetes issues?

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easy to take in

I like the fact that the episodes were short and were given in a light hearted way. I also liked that the presenters admitted to being overweight and that they actually struggled themselves. They were realistic.

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