Recap: We need to talk about metabolism | Shawn Stevenson & Tim Spector

December 30, 2025·14 min·1 clip

With identical calories, the ultra-processed sandwich caused a 50% reduction in calorie burn compared to the whole-food sandwich.

Sean Stevenson and Tim Spector break down the complex topic of metabolism, explaining it as the body's energy management system. They discuss a study showing how ultra-processed foods with identical calories to whole foods can drastically reduce metabolic efficiency, and explore why metabolic health is highly individual.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from ZOE Science & Nutrition