Weight Management, Appetite & Body Composition

• When someone undergoes liposuction or another surgery that removes adipose tissue, is there a sudden reduction in leptin levels? (SNP7, 01:20)
• How does chronic energy restriction or crash dieting affect appetite hormones and appetite regulation over the long term? (SNP7, 03:56)
• How do anorexia and severe obesity appear to defy the usual rules of metabolic compensation? (SNP7, 11:05)
• Why do some serotonin-dopamine reuptake inhibitors and serotonin precursors reduce hunger and appetite? (SNP7, 22:30)
• Can an algorithm or program determine a person’s “ideal weight”? (SNP7, 26:38)
• What are best practices for the maximum duration someone should spend in fat-loss or weight-gain phases? (SNP7, 53:24)
• What does our understanding of appetite and body-weight regulation mean for naturally skinny people trying to gain weight? (SNP7, 54:50)
• Is there hope, or an effective way forward, for obesity rates to come down? (SNP9, 02:37)
• What mechanisms keep body weight relatively stable over time? (SNP15, 00:03:01)
• Is semaglutide a game-changer, and what should we make of weight regain after treatment? (SNP15, 00:11:52)
• Is there an upper BMI threshold where even someone with an otherwise “healthy” body composition would have elevated health risk? (SNP24, 50:13)
• How would you implement a calorie surplus for bulking in healthy trainees without compromising health markers? (SNP25, 02:16)
• Is a BMI that is “too low” a problem? (SNP33, 32:55)
• Does body weight itself matter if someone has healthy behaviours? (SNP33, 01:11:56)
• What biochemical processes underlie fat loss, including fat mobilisation and transport, and are there any potential short-term cardiovascular risks? (SNP39, 43:31)
• Is the idea that weight-loss attempts typically produce more harm than benefit supported by evidence? (#366, 18:32)
• What is your opinion on intuitive eating, both the formal framework and the broader trend? (#366, 21:28)
• Do genetic differences cause substantial individual variation in responses to hunger and satiety cues? (#366, 45:51)
• What explains increased abdominal or midriff fat after menopause, including claims that adipose tissue secretes oestrogen? (#366, 83:21)
• Is there evidence for strategies that specifically target “stubborn” fat cells with a high alpha-to-beta adrenergic receptor ratio? (#366, 85:26)
• What are the key dietary changes supported by evidence for long-term weight loss? (#410, 27:00)
• Can someone establish a genuinely lower body-fat “set point” after weight loss, and how long might they need to maintain the lower weight? (#410, 72:03)

Protein, Muscle, Exercise & Sports Nutrition

• What is muscle protein balance? (SNP5, 04:28)
• Why is the focus so often on muscle protein synthesis? (SNP5, 05:32)
• Is muscle protein synthesis a good proxy measure for outcomes such as muscle growth or repair? (SNP5, 07:14)
• What is the difference between whole-body protein synthesis and muscle protein synthesis? (SNP5, 10:37)
• Would bacterially produced whey with the same molecular structure as dairy whey be expected to have different physiological effects? (SNP5, 12:57)
• Does the literature still show that a larger dose of plant-derived protein is required to produce a similar response to animal protein? (SNP5, 15:50)
• After exercise, does protein ingestion stimulate muscle protein synthesis for longer than the usual two-to-three-hour period reported at rest? (SNP5, 26:39)
• How should protein and fasting protocols be managed for preservation or growth of muscle mass, and does this differ between time-restricted eating and longer fasts? (SNP5, 27:49)
• Is it a waste to take too much protein powder at once because some of it will not be absorbed? (SNP5, 34:58)
• Does adding boiling water to protein powder reduce its quality because of protein denaturation? (SNP5, 42:50)
• How do you evaluate protein status in the body? (SNP5, 47:05)
• For someone over 60 who lifts heavy twice per week, what is a reasonable body-fat percentage and how much daily protein should they target? (SNP5, 50:51)
• What dietary patterns or foods best support strength and recovery in premenopausal women, particularly on a plant-based diet? (SNP39, 08:48)
• Is consuming 2 g of protein per pound of body weight safe if total energy intake is high and the diet is otherwise balanced? (SNP39, 1:14:35)
• What are protein requirements during breastfeeding and during general rehabilitation from non-sport injuries? (SNP49, 01:23:58)
• How should protein timing be approached? (#227, 14:10)
• Does antioxidant supplementation, particularly vitamins C and E, interfere with training adaptation? (#227, 33:25)
• Will increasing exercise cause a compensatory reduction in non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)? (#227, 39:55)
• What non-tracking dietary methods can be used with combat-sport athletes? (#314, 34:00)
• Can athletes adapt to higher fat oxidation during exercise to the point that exogenous carbohydrate is unnecessary? (#314, 38:20)
• How can someone deliberately lose muscle mass in a healthy way? (#314, 42:55)
• What makes collagen supplements different from, or potentially better than, simply taking amino acids? (#366, 65:42)
• Do statins adversely affect strength gains or hypertrophy? (#366, 99:34)
• Can three larger protein-containing meals work instead of four or more? How much protein can be absorbed at once, does nighttime protein help, and how much protein per kilogram is appropriate for gaining muscle? (#410, 10:42)
• How could a cyclist deliberately lose unnecessary upper-body muscle mass to maximise power-to-weight ratio? (#410, 56:06)

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health

• Apart from reducing salt and eating potassium-rich foods, what else can be done to reduce blood pressure? (SNP9, 30:34)
• What is the best ratio of DHA to EPA for increasing the Omega-3 Index? (SNP9, 40:34)
• Statins versus ezetimibe: how do their mechanisms differ, and are there situations or genetic markers where one may work better than the other? (SNP9, 46:20)
• How can LDL-C be lowered further, and can statins potentially be avoided? (SNP15, 00:30:42)
• What specifically is a causal risk factor, and how does it differ from other nutritional risk factors? (SNP19, 00:01:12)
• What is the role of Lp(a) as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events? (SNP19, 00:24:52)
• Is insulin resistance and resulting type 2 diabetes caused by intracellular lipid accumulation in the liver and muscle? (SNP19, 00:52:38)
• Can alcohol consumption compromise long-term blood-glucose management, beta-cell function or insulin sensitivity? (SNP19, 01:23:02)
• How should systematic reviews reporting no association between saturated-fat modification or reduction and cardiovascular outcomes be interpreted? (SNP24, 01:50)
• What role does homocysteine play in heart disease, and is it causal? (SNP24, 29:10)
• Monounsaturated fat: good, bad or indifferent? (SNP24, 40:45)
• If ApoB is normal but LDL particle number is elevated, which value is more representative of risk? (SNP25, 33:25)
• For familial hypercholesterolaemia, what options exist for further lipid lowering? (SNP33, 51:33)
• Why does the Mediterranean diet emphasise monounsaturated fats over polyunsaturated fats when the latter may appear more beneficial for cardiovascular health? (SNP39, 02:00)
• Are a substantial proportion of people dietary-cholesterol hyper-absorbers, making food cholesterol particularly important for them? (SNP39, 1:10:37)
• Can plant-based diets reverse cardiovascular disease? (SNP49, 00:16:55)
• How should the health effects of saturated fat in coconut products be interpreted? (SNP53, 50:47)
• What is the relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and cholesterol levels in the body? (#227, 20:40)
• Does eating a high-fat ketogenic diet cause cardiovascular-health problems? (#314, 48:40)
• Is salt good or bad for health? (#314, 52:34)
• Is arteriosclerosis reversible? (#366, 92:12)
• Is there any benefit to deliberately including small amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet for healthspan? (#410, 1:10)
• What are the sodium needs of people with hypotension? (#410, 19:34)

Foods, Dietary Patterns & Plant-Based Nutrition

• Should non-organic meat be avoided? (SNP15, 00:55:16)
• Can vegan diets cause brain-related problems because of lower intakes of choline, creatine and taurine? (SNP15, 01:03:09)
• Given that most people do not meet them, are public-health fruit and vegetable targets too high? (SNP24, 22:10)
• Is coconut oil good or bad, and what should we make of claims that it can cure conditions such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease? (SNP25, 24:36)
• Are raw oats a good ingredient for smoothies, and do they need to be cooked? (SNP25, 46:35)
• Do people following low-carbohydrate diets need less vitamin C? (SNP27, 01:22)
• Which compounds typically found in animal products might be worth supplementing for health or performance in vegan or vegetarian populations? (SNP27, 26:20)
• Based on current evidence, what is the most ideal diet for people to eat? (SNP27, 49:53)
• Are claims that vegan diets are nutritionally insufficient overblown? (SNP33, 41:38)
• Does human coevolution with particular foods determine compatibility with, or benefit from, those foods? (SNP49, 00:44:56)
• How reliable is the omega-3 content of farmed salmon, particularly imported frozen salmon? (SNP49, 01:12:37)
• How accurate are food labels for metabolizable energy and absorption, particularly across different levels of food processing? (SNP49, 01:19:18)
• Does dietary fibre have health effects independent of the healthy foods in which it is commonly found? (SNP53, 02:09)
• If the total dose of red meat is matched, does the frequency with which it is consumed matter? (SNP53, 15:37)
• Do people need to consume whole grains? (SNP53, 59:51)
• How should carbohydrate intake be increased after following a ketogenic diet? (#227, 20:38)
• Can fibre intake become too high? (#227, 29:37)
• Should duck meat be categorised as red meat in epidemiological studies? (#314, 12:30)
• Is eating breakfast beneficial for mental or cognitive performance? (#366, 39:35)
• For night-shift workers, is it better to eat or not eat between midnight and 06:00, and if eating, what macronutrients are preferable? (#366, 50:15)
• For fatty liver, what is potentially more problematic: fructose or saturated fat? (#366, 62:12)
• Does evidence support claims that industrial seed and vegetable oils are pro-inflammatory? (#366, 94:02)
• If marine omega-3 fatty acids are important, how do we reconcile this with historical populations having limited access to them? (#366, 96:28)
• Should fruit consumption be moderated because of its sugar content? (#410, 46:40)
• Could increasing use of plant-based diets create public-health problems if people fail to obtain nutrients such as vitamin A, choline, iron and sufficient protein? (#410, 60:15)

Supplements, Micronutrients & Food Safety

• Is astaxanthin a suitable substitute for algae oil for someone following a vegan diet? (SNP9, 59:01)
• Is glyphosate in food a cause for concern? (SNP15, 00:43:52)
• Why can high caffeine intake cause increased sweating? (SNP15, 00:48:30)
• Are energy drinks bad for us? (SNP15, 01:12:10)
• Are there nutrients or supplements with strong evidence for improving joint health? (SNP19, 01:27:20)
• Should someone supplement in order to reach 100% of the RDA for micronutrients? (SNP25, 41:39)
• Is there any benefit to supplemental collagen? (SNP25, 55:21)
• Why do omega-3 supplementation studies often not measure baseline Omega-3 Index? (SNP27, 40:09)
• Is there evidence that otherwise healthy people should consume omega-3 supplements? (SNP27, 55:26)
• How much individual variation is there in caffeine metabolism? (SNP33, 02:28)
• Are high-sodium electrolyte supplements appropriate or useful for recreational trainees? (SNP33, 14:47)
• Are there specific foods or supplements that help regenerate or protect connective tissue in conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome? (SNP39, 20:33)
• Are multivitamins useful as nutritional insurance, or are they unnecessary when someone already has a good diet? (SNP49, 00:32:54)
• How should consumers choose supplement formulations and brands? (SNP49, 00:56:25)
• Folate versus folic acid: what are the differences, and which is the better choice for women of childbearing age? (SNP49, 01:04:46)
• What are the implications of MTHFR genetic variants, and is 5-MTHF preferable? (SNP53, 25:17)
• How do typical over-the-counter fish-oil supplements compare with pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 products? (SNP53, 34:10)
• Does coffee affect appetite? (#227)
• What are the potential benefits of gelatin consumption? (#227, 11:10)
• Do food additives or preservatives accumulate in body tissues? (#227, 36:20)
• Does calcium supplementation improve bone health and prevent fractures? (#314, 53:38)
• Is fish-oil supplementation worthwhile, or is obtaining omega-3 fatty acids from fish preferable? (#366, 69:42)

Women’s Health, Clinical Nutrition & Special Populations

• How can hunger be better managed in women with obesity and PCOS? (SNP9, 60:45)
• What is the pathophysiology of PCOS, what phenotypes exist, and what dietary strategies may be useful? (SNP19, 00:33:35)
• What dietary interventions are recommended for people with NAFLD or elevated transaminases? (SNP19, 01:17:34)
• Is there good research on dietary or supplement interventions for autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus? (SNP19, 01:29:07)
• Is there evidence that diet affects oral thrush? (SNP25, 51:58)
• What should be considered regarding menopause, resistance training and progressive overload? (SNP33, 58:05)
• What does current evidence say about ketogenic diets during cancer treatment, and are there specific cancers where they might be beneficial? (SNP39, 28:39)
• Can women with overweight or obesity experience RED-S while dieting, and how should the risks and benefits of fat loss versus low energy availability be balanced? (#314, 14:10)
• During cancer recovery, what foods and training approaches are appropriate after surgery and during chemotherapy? (#314, 25:00)
• What should people know about hemochromatosis, particularly in Irish populations? (#314, 62:55)
• Are peri- and postmenopausal women less efficient at using carbohydrate as fuel because of hormonal changes? (#366, 80:17)
• Is there evidence on iron and zinc co-ingestion for anaemia of prematurity? (SNP15, 01:00:08)
• Is intermittent fasting appropriate for women? (#227, 46:31)

Brain, Gut, Circadian & Other Health Topics

• Could bacteria reported in the human brain have implications for appetite regulation or obesity? (SNP7, 32:20)
• Where does current research stand on the impact of diet on brain health? (SNP24, 59:32)
• Do recent findings mean we need to discard previous research on diet’s impact on the gut microbiome? (SNP24, 01:08:48)
• Is eating too early relative to one’s chronotype metabolically problematic? (SNP49, 00:05:13)
• What does the literature say about dietary interventions for ADHD? (SNP19, 01:32:34)
• Do we eat primarily to feed ourselves, or are we also effectively feeding our microbiota? (#366, 88:50)

Research, Public Health, Coaching & Critical Thinking

• Why do policy recommendations often differ between researchers from biomedical backgrounds and those from public-health backgrounds? (SNP7, 34:55)
• What can be learned from Stephan Guyenet’s debate with Gary Taubes? (SNP7, 46:26)
• What previously held positions have you significantly changed your mind about as the evidence has evolved? (SNP9, 11:28)
• What courses would you recommend to a beginning scientist starting a PhD on the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases? (SNP9, 56:20)
• What recommendations do you have for someone wanting to get involved in chrononutrition research? (SNP9, 64:33)
• What resources clearly explain obesity and obesity treatments for doctors and patients? (SNP15, 01:17:43)
• What have you changed your mind about recently, and what issues might you change your mind about in the future? (SNP19, 01:08:16)
• Some in-vitro studies suggest emulsifiers may be harmful. What does the current evidence say about their health effects? (SNP19, 01:02:42)
• For someone with a heavy workload and busy schedule, what are the highest-priority fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle? (SNP25, 15:25)
• If advising a company on workplace health, what fundamentals would you recommend? (SNP27, 14:56)
• What is your process for preparing for a podcast and choosing topics? (SNP27, 44:10)
• What is the most effective system for organising, structuring and retrieving accumulated knowledge? (SNP39, 59:48)
• Could increasing use of AI pose a threat to the conduct of rigorous science? (SNP53, 01:02:29)
• How should calorie restriction be defined in the context of its scientifically observed relationship with longevity? (#314, 05:00)
• How much might nutrition science change over the next ten years, and how much impact will those changes have on daily life? (#314, 21:20)
• What are Danny’s weaknesses? (#314, 26:00)
• Is nutrition and resistance-training science shifting from a physicalist approach toward a phenomenological one? (#314, 68:10)
• What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this year? (#366, 08:40)
• Is the cliché of “hacks to survive the holiday period” a damaging narrative? (#366, 16:30)
• How should a health coach apply knowledge about structural barriers and public health when working with individual clients? (#366, 25:40)
• What should someone read or learn outside nutrition to become a better thinker and person? (#366, 30:26)
• Of emerging areas such as nutrigenomics and the diet-microbiome relationship, which are most promising and which are overhyped? (#366, 56:09)
• As a coach, what is the biggest thing you can do to help people navigate their emotional relationship and behaviours around food? (#394)
• How do you help a family member improve a poor diet without annoying or frustrating them? (#394)
• What are the highest-value nutrition and lifestyle interventions for a busy executive who wants to lose weight and improve fitness but has very limited time? (#394)
• Do all nutrition-coaching clients get results? If not, why not, and what are the next steps? (#394)
• How do you identify the problem when someone reaches a plateau despite low calories, high activity and good adherence? (#394)
• How do you deal with people asking for help when they do not like the answer they receive? (#394)
• How do you help someone who fears “going off track” and has become too strict? (#394)
• How can someone working from home manage boredom-driven eating when they feel continually hungry despite knowing it is not physiological hunger? (#394)
• Do extreme or pseudoscientific commentators use aggressive attempts to falsify opponents’ positions rather than their own, and how could public scientific debates be improved? (#410, 36:41)
• What is the evidence and practice behind integrative and functional nutrition? (#410, 51:26)