Do you calorie count? You’re not alone. It’s a multi-billionaire dollar industry for weight loss, nutrition labelling and of course mandated on food packaging in most countries. Calorie counts are hard to miss. But how accurate are they?Giles Yeo is a geneticist with over 20 years' experience dedicated to  researching obesity and the brain control of food intake. He obtained  his PhD from the University of Cambridge and assisted the pioneering  research that uncovered key pathways in how the brain controls food  intake. His current research focuses on understanding how these pathways  differ from person to person, and the influence of genetics in our  relationship with food and eating habits. Giles also moonlights  as a science presenter for the BBC and you will no doubt recognise him from a string of programmes.We talk about:The Inaccuracies of calorie measurementOur lack of understanding about the composition of foodThe impact of individual differencesOther determinants of weight controlHow we got to the calorie calculationsHow we expend  energy - through BMR (basal metabolic rate), physical activity and dietary thermogenesisAs well as why protein is more satiatingHis fantastic 8-part podcast series ‘Dr Giles Yeo Chews the Fat’  is also available to listen to online, featuring myself as well as the Van Tullekens, Adam Rutherford.Find show notes and sign up to the eat, read, listen newsletter at www.thedoctorskitchen.com Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.