What Makes Us Fat? The Genetics of Appetite with Giles Yeo | Dr Karan

Dr. Giles Yeo is a geneticist and obesity researcher at the University of Cambridge. He specialises in how brain and genetic factors influence appetite and body weight regulation. He’s known for communicating complex science around obesity, appetite, and nutrition in an accessible way through media, books, and public talks.

In this episode, Giles and I dig into how our genes - especially those in the brain’s appetite and reward centres - shape our hunger signals, fat storage, and body fat “set‑points”. We explain why diets often fail and how to reset our appetite.

Stay tuned to find out:
➡︎ Just how strongly our genes are to blame for appetite and body weight
➡︎ The specific brain region that regulates hunger and energy balance
➡︎ Whether weight loss injections are really the answer
➡︎ Why obesity is biological - not a moral failing
➡︎ The 3 numbers to remember for weight loss

Connect with Dr Giles Yeo:
Instagram:   / gilesyeo  
X: https://x.com/GilesYeo

Grab Giles’ book here: https://amzn.eu/d/hoAnVLr

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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:47 Welcome back
01:01 The genetic reason for obesity
02:49 The role of the brain in weight gain
05:15 Reward, hunger and fullness
08:14 How fat cells influence how hungry you are
10:09 The hypothalamus map
13:19 What to do when your meal’s not enough
16:16 Why hormones don’t limit your appetite
18:21 The paradox of leptin resistance
20:55 Insulin resistance and weight gain
22:30 Defining high quality weight loss
24:56 The yo-yo effect
26:13 Why weight loss drugs aren’t enough
30:17 The wider benefits of GLP-1 agonist weight loss drugs
34:19 Gene mutation and obesity
37:43 Gut hormones and the role they play
41:06 The effect of early years education
44:30 Three numbers to remember
46:23 Your DNA isn’t your destiny

About Dr Karan:
Dr. Karan Rajan is a doctor, author, and educator dedicated to making health and medical science accessible to all. Through evidence-based analysis, he addresses topics such as gut health, brain health, and healthy lifestyle choices, while dispelling common medical myths with a touch of dark humor. His content provides reliable, research-driven insights designed to inform and empower viewers to better understand their health.

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What Makes Us Fat? The Genetics of Appetite with Giles Yeo | Dr Karan
   / @drkaran