Whoop Fitness Wearable

👇 Visit The Proof website for the full show notes and supporting studies. 👇 https://theproof.com/podcast/ Simon’s personal supplement stack: https://hub.theproof.com/supplements In this episode, I sit down with Dr Kevin Hall, a leading researcher at the NIH whose work has shaped how we understand energy balance, ultra-processed foods, and the drivers of obesity. With the release of the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines, we unpack what’s changed, what hasn’t, and where the science is still evolving. This conversation goes beyond headlines. We explore what ultra-processed foods actually are, why they may lead to increased calorie intake, and what controlled feeding studies reveal about how our food environment interacts with human biology. From energy density to food texture and hyper-palatability, this is a deep dive into the mechanisms that may be driving overeating and weight gain in modern food systems. What We Cover - What stood out in the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines and how they differ from previous versions - Why “ultra-processed foods” remain difficult to define and regulate - The surprising results from controlled trials comparing ultra-processed and minimally processed diets - Why people can eat hundreds more calories without feeling more satisfied - The role of energy density, food texture, and hyper-palatable combinations - Whether ultra-processed foods can be re-engineered to support better health outcomes - How the modern food environment may be interacting with our biology to drive obesity - Why individual responses to the same diet can vary so widely 00:00 Intro 00:50 2025 Dietary Guidelines First Impressions 03:57 Why They Avoided "Ultra-Processed" Language 09:46 The UPF Definition Nobody Agrees On 20:33 What Actually Makes You Overeat UPFs 30:36 Two Food Properties That Hijack Your Calories 38:31 What Happens When You Fix Ultra-Processed Food 49:46 Why Big Food Won't Fix Its Own Products 56:11 How We Went from Famine Fear to Calorie Glut 01:02:50 Why Some People Overeat UPFs and Others Don't 01:06:00 Is Obesity Actually Genetic? 01:11:12 Carbs vs. Fat: What the Data Actually Shows 01:22:14 Keto vs. Low-Fat: The Metabolic Ward Results 01:30:59 A Top Nutrition Scientist's Honest Diet Advice 01:37:49 Will Food Labels Actually Change What You Eat? 01:46:14 "Am I a Food Industry Shill?" -Kevin Hall 01:49:07 Why Kevin Hall Left the NIH for Drug Research 01:52:27 The Study He'd Run With Unlimited Funding This is a nuanced, evidence-based conversation that challenges simple narratives around food and health, and highlights where more research is urgently needed. You can learn more about Dr Kevin Hall and his work at his https://www.kevinhallphd.com/. Follow him on https://x.com/KevinH_PhD and connect with him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhall4/ . His book https://www.amazon.com/Food-Intelligence-Science-Nourishes-Harms/dp/059333230X, co-authored with Julia Belluz, explores the science of metabolism and ultra-processed foods. Support the show: The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. Visit http://theproof.com/friends for exclusive discounts. Enjoy, friends. Simon This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Head to https://38tera.com/?ref=SIMON and use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. 38Tera ships to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Mill Mill is an odourless, fully automated food recycler that turns kitchen scraps into clean, dry grounds overnight with no smells or mess. Get $75 off and try it risk-free for 90 days at http://mill.com/THEPROOF using code THEPROOF. Mill ships within the United States. IM8 With 92 nutrients, including Vitamin B12, Iodine, Selenium and Vitamin D, in highly absorbable forms, IM8 Daily Essentials is the perfect all-in-one daily multi-vitamin to ensure you meet your daily micronutrient needs. IM8 is offering an exclusive 10% off your first order with a free welcome kit when you enter the promo code SIMON at checkout on http://im8health.com/. IM8 ships to 27 countries including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and many regions across Europe, Asia, and South America. Momentous My go-to supplement brand for protein and creatine is Momentous. Use code THEPROOF for up to 35% off your first order at http://livemomentous.com/. Momentous ships to many countries worldwide depending on local import regulations. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on http://join.whoop.com/simon. Whoop ships to 56+ international markets, including the US, Canada, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, and parts of Asia.