Prashant Desai in a podcast episode explains how India became the obesity capital of the world
Mumbai: In a day and age when being fitness conscious has become more than a trend, entrepreneur, nutrition expert, and ‘Longevity Sherpa’ Prashant Desai has been captivating audiences across India with his impactful content promoting a healthy lifestyle. Known for his profound insight on wellness and longevity, Prashant recently joined one of India’s leading entrepreneurs and podcasters, Raj Shamani, marking his 3rd appearance on, Figuring Out With Raj Shamani, where he delved into one of the most misunderstood topic – weight loss, the science behind it, as well as the global epidemic of obesity, and how India now the obesity capital of the world.
After appearing on Raj Shamani’s podcast twice before for intense discussions on health and business that received overwhelming responses from the audience, Prashant returned for a third podcast episode around obesity, weight loss and the science behind it. The episode is gaining remarkable attention, garnering over 400K views and 10K likes and sparking active online chatter and impactful discussions.
In the podcast, Prashant debunked myths and commonly held beliefs about weight loss. He discussed how weight loss is complex given the role of metabolism and simplified the ONLY solution to shed weight i.e. calorie restriction or calorie deficit. He draws parallels to the Law of Thermodynamics that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can change form or be transferred from one object to another. Every gram of extra calorie consumed, if not used, needs to be stored, making your fat cells grow eventually leading to overweight and then obesity. The conversation further saw him explore the reality behind diets, sustainable weight management, nutritional needs for energy, exercise, tracking your calories and reverse dieting. Additionally, he also took a deep dive into why obesity has become an epidemic and why it should be concerning, alongside trending topics like fat burners and ozempic. Some key highlights include:
Myths Debunked: Prashant highlighted how exercise has zero role in weight loss directly. Exercise is a vital protocol to keep part weight off once you have lost. He cited studies where 70% participants that exercised regularly after weight loss, kept it off.
Easy to lose, easier to gain back: 6 in 7 people lose weight. But 95% gain back the weight in three years. Prashant cited mouse studies to inform that post calorie restriction mice lost weight, but when allowed to eat ad-libitum they gained back the weight 2x faster.
Carbs, Fats, Protein, Fibre? What’s in and what’s out: He stressed that protein is your best friend when it comes to weight loss. As long as you are in calorie deficit and eat adequate proteins, it doesn’t matter whether you go for keto or high carb from a weight loss perspective. Fibre is also equally critical to include in your weight loss diet.
Beyond Watching Your Weight: He explained how obesity had consequences extending beyond weight, deriving correlational links with diabetes, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, 13 different types of cancer, infertility and PCOS.
Talking Numbers: He shared staggering statistics. Globally, almost 4.5 billion are overweight, and one out of four Indians is obese. He also told Shamani how 95% of people who lose weight regain it in 3 years.
On a positive note, he highlighted how one can sustainably achieve weight loss without regaining it, all while emphasising the distinction between losing and maintaining weight. Stressing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and mental well-being, he discussed the role of quality sleep, the best exercises that support weight loss, and calorie-tracking apps in long-term weight management. He also prioritised the importance of breaking your diet or refeeding to trick your body so it doesn’t feel like it is starving and increasing the sustainability of weight loss.
