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The mathematics of weight loss | Ruben Meerman | TEDxQUT (edited version)

TEDx Talks · 12.6M views · 2013-10-11 · 21:26

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Overview

Ruben Meerman presents a TEDx talk on the stoichiometry of weight loss, showing with lab demonstrations where fat goes when it is lost. He argues that most of it is exhaled as carbon dioxide.

On Hacker News

HN regularly shares it in weight loss threads as a clear, precise explanation of the physics of weight loss.

Recommended by 6 HN people across 5 months · HN mentions 2017–2024

Topics

Nutrition & diet scienceScientific method & science communication
Search by tags
metabolismfat losscaloriestedxstoichiometry

What people said

palata · 2024-05 · Recommendation

Whenever I have a discussion about weight loss, I like to share this TEDx video: [VIDEO] Just because I think it is quite interesting, not trying to make a point or anything :-).

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projektfu · 2022-02 · Recommendation

Fat stores are considered, metabolically, as stored energy as they expand and diminish based on the metabolizable energy of the diet, which may be different from the measured total energy. But you’re definitely right! There’s a great Mr. Wizard-style TEDx video about it: [VIDEO]

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relueeuler · 2021-09 · Recommendation

Your description above is not how the body works. To support a mass M must require a quantity of energy E obtained from food. The attempt to alter this model with “loose” ideas about “burn rates” therefore does not make sense. The mathematics of weight loss is laid out clearly in 20 minutes here: [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by TEDx Talks, played through YouTube.

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