Zoe podcast: weight gain and sex difference

[WarriorN]

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition/id1611216298?i=1000637038881

Just really enjoying an in depth science podcast where they're very clear that men and women are male and female.

It's also good info about fat gain and menopause and how fat is not all bad, especially as we age. "Your belly fat post menopause is your 3rd ovary...!"

Mentions the issue of not enough fat for women which is coincidentally mentioned on the bbc today Laura Kenny: Women struggle to get pregnant because of athlete lifestyle www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/67690168

The researcher is American and it's so refreshing to hear a scientist being a good scientist - No invisible women here!

And that there's some basic questions that clearly haven't been asked about women's health.

(Zoe peeps mention they're collecting data but iirc they're a bit "gender identity" focussed?)

Thanks, OP.

Yes, Zoe did the covid app and switched, suddenly, from 'sex' to 'gender identity'.

Which is ridiculous, because Covid couldn't care less about your gender - whereas sex has a very clear effect on both the short and long term disease impact.

Ah yes, thanks for the reminder on that.

I need to listen more closely as a lot went over my head, but definitely no gender identity bs and lots of men/ women words.

It's actually mostly about menopause and fat actually, though as many questions (as it's never been researched, of course) as answers.

(The belly fat third ovary theory may not be actually accurate, they still don't really know.)

There's a simple summary at the end which is helpful if anyone does want to wade through it.

For me it was just refreshing that the guest researcher is really looking at the differences between men and women in a way that is feeding back into info about women's longer term health.

This sounds really interesting, I’ll have a listen later. Thanks OP.

How infuriating though to have them putting out talks about the "basic questions we need to answer about women's health", while they refuse to collect sex-based data any more, only "gender"-based, thereby completely stuffing up what would have been a great opportunity to try and answer some of those questions 😡😢

Ooh, intrigued by belly fat as your third ovary. I only have one legit ovary so am I allowed double belly fat to take up the slack?😉

I haven’t listened and probably wouldn’t understand if I did, so can someone explain the need for a “third ovary” post menopause?

Thanks

(I was trying to write Xmas cards so didn't listen very well)

I think - It was a theory postulated about why we get meno belly weight gain, by the guest, as she said that for women fat is hormonal and important for our health. Eg periods stop when not enough fat etc. but she wasn't sure if it acted in the same way as bum and thigh fat (lots of different fats apparently.)

I think the Zoe team then bust that idea based on their data -but it was all postulation and theory.

It is really annoying that they collect data with 'gender identity' as this episode really had far more open ended questions they don't know about posed than answered, and it was very much about untangling the differences between men and women, with a really important focus on women's health.

It's probably best to listen as now I'm juggling snack demands and not sure I'm explaining properly 😂

I signed up to the Zoe food study and they were primarily interested in my sex. They asked for identity something so they found address me correctly but we're very clear in the initial questioning that they needed to know whether I was male or female

That was fascinating.

The third ovary thing - apparently once our ovaries stop producing oestrogen our belly fat cells take over. But fat on hips & thighs is healthier & muscle mass is still really important. Also very much in favour of HRT patches.

How bloody refreshing to hear about women the sex instead of women the gender nonsense.

I had understood the adrenal glands stepped in to sort of replace some of the lost oestrogen effects, which is why women often get anxious/anxiety at peri meno. And that we need 'good' fats and protein to boost our adrenal system. I may well be explaining that badly - the book I read was 'the happy menopause 'and explained the mechanisms much better!

I’m more than half way through this podcast and will listen to the rest on my morning commute. It is really interesting. Thanks for flagging it.

There is a link between obesity and endometrial cancer, and it is said that this is because of fat cells producing oestrogen.