Beyond Calories: The Biology of Weight Regulation with Prof Eric Ravussin

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at , or This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Dr. Eric Ravussin , one of the world’s leading researchers in human metabolism, obesity, and energy balance. Over several decades, Dr. Ravussin’s work has helped reshape how scientists think about body weight regulation, moving the conversation beyond the simplistic idea of “calories in versus calories out” to a deeper understanding of the biology that governs appetite, energy expenditure, and fat storage. In this conversation, Mikki and Eric explore the brain’s role in regulating body weight, the influence of genetics and environment, and what his landmark research — including work with the Pima population and the CALERIE trial — has revealed about metabolic adaptation, calorie restriction, and longevity. They also discuss spontaneous physical activity, the concept of a body-weight “settling point,” and the emerging role of GLP-1 medications in obesity treatment. It’s a fascinating look at the physiology of weight regulation and why maintaining weight loss is often far more complex than most people realise. About Dr. Eric Ravussin Dr. Eric Ravussin is an internationally recognised researcher in metabolism, obesity, and energy balance. He is Associate Executive Director for Clinical Science at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University , one of the world’s leading institutions for metabolic research. For more than three decades, Dr. Ravussin’s work has focused on understanding the biological drivers of obesity and weight regulation, including energy expenditure, metabolic adaptation, appetite regulation, and the role of genetics in body weight . His research with the Pima population helped illuminate the powerful interaction between genetics and environment in the development of obesity. Dr. Ravussin has also been a principal investigator in the landmark CALERIE (Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy) trial , the first long-term randomised controlled trial examining the physiological effects of sustained calorie restriction in humans, including its potential implications for metabolic health and longevity. He has authored hundreds of scientific publications and remains a leading voice in research exploring how biology, behaviour, and environment interact to shape body weight and metabolic health. Prof Ravussin’s faculty profile: Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to or to order yours NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at Contact Mikki:

You can listen to Beyond Calories: The Biology of Weight Regulation with Prof Eric Ravussin online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Beyond Calories: The Biology of Weight Regulation with Prof Eric Ravussin is an episode from Mikkipedia by Mikki Williden.

This episode is 68:27 long.

This episode was published on Mar 10, 2026.

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