#157 - AMA #22: Losing fat and gaining fat: the lessons of fat flux

The Peter Attia Drive

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter and Bob take a deep dive into fat flux. They define the major players that impact the flow of fat entering and exiting a fat cell, which determines how much fat a person carries. They discuss the significant influence that insulin has on the net fat balance and explore common strategies, such as fasting and low-carb diets, that have efficacy in the liberation and oxidation of fat from fat cells. Additionally, Bob explains his research process and how he seeks answers to Peter’s challenging questions.

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We discuss:

• The two main ways to reduce fat mass (1:30);
• Explaining fat flux—how fat enters and exits a fat cell (9:15);
• What fat balance looks like (21:15);
• What net fat influx looks like, and the impact of insulin in lipolysis (24:30);
• What net fat efflux looks like, and the benefits of fasting to break the hyperinsulinemic cycle (28:30);
• Exploring why most people with excess body fat will lose fat mass when reducing carbohydrates or eating a ketogenic diet (32:45);
• Why being in nutritional ketosis does not automatically translate to negative fat flux (fat loss) (42:40);
• Bob’s approach to scientific research (47:00);
• The importance of curiosity and a desire to learn (58:30);
• Bob’s tips and tricks for answering a scientific question in a time-crunch (1:00:00); and
• More.

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