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This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Dr. James Dorling, a researcher whose work challenges many of the traditional assumptions around energy expenditure, weight loss, and personalised nutrition.

Dr. Dorling’s research spans multiple large-scale studies, including the E-MECHANIC trial, which revealed that traditional metabolic equations often overestimate energy burn—particularly in certain populations. His work also highlights differences in how men and women, and people of different ethnicities, respond to exercise in terms of energy expenditure, raising important questions about the accuracy of fitness trackers and calorie calculations.

In this conversation, Mikki and James explore why some people seem to hit a weight-loss plateau despite regular exercise, how compensatory mechanisms might be working against fat loss goals, and what practical strategies can help break through these barriers. They also dive into findings from the CALERIE™ study, where unexpected predictors of weight loss—like sexual satisfaction—emerged, and discuss the potential for machine learning to improve personalised weight-loss strategies.

Beyond metabolism, they tackle the hype around DNA-based nutrition plans and the reality of individual variability in weight loss outcomes.

Dr. James Dorling is a lecturer in Human Nutrition at the University of Glasgow, with a research focus on the impact of nutrition and physical activity interventions on obesity, metabolic health, and aging biomarkers. His work explores appetite regulation, eating behaviours, and how these factors change in response to lifestyle interventions.

Dr. Dorling completed his undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Bath before earning his PhD from Loughborough University, where he investigated the effects of acute exercise and obesity-related genetic factors on appetite and appetite-related hormones. He then continued his research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, studying the influence of calorie restriction and exercise on weight regulation, aging, and metabolic adaptations.

Dr. Dorling's work has been featured in leading scientific publications and podcasts, where he discusses the intersection of metabolism, exercise, and behaviour change. His research challenges conventional wisdom around weight loss and aims to refine personalised strategies for improving health outcomes.

For more on his work, visit his profile at the University of Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/staff/jamesdorling/

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Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
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This week on the podcast Mikki speaks to returning guest Dr Tony Botaugy, for a robust discussion around fuelling for different athletes and different contexts. They also discuss low energy availability and the prevalence of relative energy deficiency in sport. Mikki and Tony don’t always agree, but they do agree that context is everything when making recommendations.

Tony is a strength coach and an exercise physiologist based in Sydney, Australia. His undergraduate degree was in Human Movement (ACU) and he holds a PhD in Exercise and Sports Science from Charles Darwin University in far north Australia.

In his coaching career that has spanned closed to 30 years, he has written over 70,000 training programs, across a wide range of populations, including the general public, athletes, Olympians (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), special populations and those needing rehabilitation from injuries.

Tony has been involved in education since 1999, having held various educational positions at several universities in exercise science, physiotherapy, and personal training. His own educational programs for personal trainers, allied health professionals and the general public have been running for since 2002, which have now moved to an online platform since Covid.

Previously Tony has been an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast, a lecturer at the Australian Fitness Network, AIF, the Australian Catholic University (Schools of Exercise Science and Physiotherapy), NetFit New Zealand and New Zealand Weightlifting.

Tony has also been an editorial board member for The University of the Sunshine Coast's Fitness Research department and an editor for the Journal of Fitness Research, a member of the Australian Institute of Fitness Personal Training Advisory Panel and has sat on the expert advisory panel for Fitness Australia. Over the past three decades Tony has written hundreds of health and fitness related articles and was the recipient of the 2004 Australian Fitness Industry’s Author of the Year Award.

Find Tony here: https://www.tonyboutagy.com/pages/about-tony

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tonyboutagy/?hl=en

Contact Mikki:
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Today on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Kristi Storoschuk, a passionate researcher, science communicator, and PhD candidate at Queen’s University. Kristi’s research focuses on exercise physiology, metabolic health, and the fascinating world of nutrient-exercise timing.

In this episode, we dive into topics like mitochondrial biogenesis, behind fasted versus fed training, and Kristi’s broader research interests in improving metabolic health and blood sugar regulation. Kristi also shares her insights on the practical applications of her work, touching on how science can inform our day-to-day choices in nutrition and exercise.

Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or simply interested in optimising your health, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking science.

Kristi Storoschuk is a researcher, science communicator, and PhD candidate in the Muscle Physiology Lab at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Her academic work focuses on exercise physiology, metabolic health, and nutrient-exercise timing, with a particular interest in how these factors influence mitochondrial biogenesis and blood sugar regulation.

Kristi’s passion for health and nutrition stems from her early experiences working in her family’s health food store. This foundation inspired her journey into research, where she bridges cutting-edge science with practical strategies to improve metabolic health and promote healthy aging.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Kristi has over three years of experience writing on topics such as ketogenic diets, fasting, and metabolic therapies. She has contributed to platforms like Paleo Magazine, CrossFit, and the Zero Longevity app, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board at Keto Kind. She is also a sought-after speaker and science communicator, known for her ability to make complex topics accessible and engaging.

Contact Mikki:
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