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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

BBC Radio 4

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken investigate the science of exercise and the dangers of inactivity.

Is modern exercise a wellness cult? Or is it a vital cure for a world that's struggling with ill health and stuck on the sofa? Most of us might like to get a bit fitter, but how easy is it to actually start exercising and give up sedentary habits?

In this series Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken examine exercise and how best to do it. How much should we be doing? How does it help our bodies? And how does our surrounding environment stand in the way of us getting fitter? Chris is challenged to examine his scepticism towards exercise. Similarly, Xand is asked to look at his new-found exercise evangelism and see what he is really running from.

Recently Xand has discovered the joys of physical activity. He's running, cycling, heading to the gym and playing ping pong like never before. It's been a real transformation and a way to keep on top of things after years of unhealthy living.

His twin brother Chris, on the other hand, is really feeling the aches and pains of middle age. With a busy job and a young family, he has precious little spare time for exercise. After a very active period in his 20s and 30s, Chris is now embracing his 'Dad bod' and sliding into a creaky middle age. Xand wants to help him turn things around. Can he do it?

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Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 6 - Building an ultra processed world

S1. Ep 6 - Building an ultra processed world

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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05/31/22 • 28 min

Chris and Xand are doctors, scientists and identical twins. Well, not quite identical. Xand is 20kg heavier, clinically obese, and has a Covid induced heart condition.

Chris believes that the reason Xand is overweight is the same reason that most of us in the UK are overweight - Ultra Processed Food or UPF. It’s the main thing that we now eat and feed to our children, but most of us have never heard of it. It’s addictive, highly profitable and the main cause of the global obesity pandemic. It’s destroying our bodies, our brains and the environment.

In this series, recorded during the first coronavirus lockdown of 2020, Chris wants to help his brother quit UPF and get his health back. So, he has a plan. In an attempt to turn Xand's life around, Chris persuades his brother to eat a diet comprising 80% Ultra-processed food while learning about every aspect of it. By doing this, Chris tests two theories - that Xand is addicted to UPF, and that eating more of the stuff while learning about it, will help him quit. Chris believes that the science shows UPF is addictive and harmful to the body, not least by driving excess consumption and weight gain. By speaking with the world’s leading experts on obesity and nutrition, Xand will learn what UPF is made of, how it’s produced, whether it’s addictive, what it does to the human brain and body and how it is the number one force driving global obesity.

In episode 6 - Building an ultra processed world – finishing the experiment, Xand explains that he has had a ‘conversion experience’. Recognising the dangers of UPF, not only to his own health and wellbeing, but to the health and wellbeing of society, he concludes that he no longer has any desire to eat UPF.

Chris and Xand talk to the American Academic and former professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, Marion Nestle, who explains how UPF is not just a public health issue, it's an environmental disaster. Marion considers and recommends what needs to be done to combat the rocketing levels of obesity – especially in children - while ensuring sustainable healthy food production.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Produced by Hester Cant Executive Producers Philly Beaumont and Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 1 - How did we get so different?

S1. Ep 1 - How did we get so different?

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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05/31/22 • 28 min

Chris and Xand are doctors, scientists and identical twins. Well, not quite identical. Xand is 20kg heavier, clinically obese, and has a Covid induced heart condition.

Chris believes that the reason Xand is overweight is the same reason that most of us in the UK are overweight - Ultra Processed Food or UPF. It’s the main thing that we now eat and feed to our children, but most of us have never heard of it. It’s addictive, highly profitable and the main cause of the global obesity pandemic. It’s destroying our bodies, our brains and the environment.

In this series, recorded during the first coronavirus lockdown of 2020, Chris wants to help his brother quit UPF and get his health back. So, he has a plan. In an attempt to turn Xand's life around, Chris persuades his brother to eat a diet comprising 80% Ultra-processed food while learning about every aspect of it. By doing this, Chris tests two theories - that Xand is addicted to UPF, and that eating more of the stuff while learning about it, will help him quit. Chris believes that the science shows UPF is addictive and harmful to the body, not least by driving excess consumption and weight gain. By speaking with the world’s leading experts on obesity and nutrition, Xand will learn what UPF is made of, how it’s produced, whether it’s addictive, what it does to the human brain and body and how it is the number one force driving global obesity.

In episode 1 - How did we get so different? - Chris and Xand speak to Cambridge University geneticist Dr Giles Yeo to begin to understand the origins of Xand's (and everyone else's) size, learning about the role our food environments play in our susceptibility to UPF. How much is destiny, how much might we be able to control?

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Produced by Hester Cant Executive Producers Philly Beaumont and Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 5 - Building an ultra-processed mind

S1. Ep 5 - Building an ultra-processed mind

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

play

05/31/22 • 28 min

Chris and Xand are doctors, scientists and identical twins. Well, not quite identical. Xand is 20kg heavier, clinically obese, and has a Covid induced heart condition.

Chris believes that the reason Xand is overweight is the same reason that most of us in the UK are overweight - Ultra Processed Food or UPF. It’s the main thing that we now eat and feed to our children, but most of us have never heard of it. It’s addictive, highly profitable and the main cause of the global obesity pandemic. It’s destroying our bodies, our brains and the environment.

In this series, recorded during the first coronavirus lockdown of 2020, Chris wants to help his brother quit UPF and get his health back. So, he has a plan. In an attempt to turn Xand's life around, Chris persuades his brother to eat a diet comprising 80% Ultra-processed food while learning about every aspect of it. By doing this, Chris tests two theories - that Xand is addicted to UPF, and that eating more of the stuff while learning about it, will help him quit. Chris believes that the science shows UPF is addictive and harmful to the body, not least by driving excess consumption and weight gain. By speaking with the world’s leading experts on obesity and nutrition, Xand will learn what UPF is made of, how it’s produced, whether it’s addictive, what it does to the human brain and body and how it is the number one force driving global obesity.

In episode five - Building an ultra-processed mind - Xand continues the experiment eating 80% UPF, becoming more aware of what he is eating, and how it is effecting his mind and body. Xand also speaks to Dr Nicole Avena, a food addiction neurologist, about how our brains are affected by UPF in relation to other addictive behaviour. Both Chris and Xand go on to speak to sensory expert, Professor Barry Smith from the University of London, about how all of our senses are targeted by companies when we consume their UPF products.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Produced by Hester Cant Executive Producers Philly Beaumont and Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 7 - One Year On

S1. Ep 7 - One Year On

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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05/31/22 • 28 min

It’s been a year since Chris van Tulleken set his twin brother, Xand, a challenge to help him quit his addiction to junk food. Xand had to eat an 80% ultra-processed food (UPF) diet while learning about its health impact. It worked and by the end Xand rejected all those foods he’d previously adored, including his beloved Chinese dumplings. The experiment had an aversion effect, just as Chris had hoped.

But something else happened during the experiment, Chris also had a conversion experience. A podcast about food addiction transformed into a podcast about the twins’ relationship and how best to help someone you love.

In this episode, the twins reflect on their conversion experiences – are they eating better and more importantly, are they getting on better?

Chris speaks to obesity expert Professor Rachel Batterham who tells him how the scientific discourse about UPF has developed since the end of series 1. And the twins go to see philosopher Barry Smith whose professional life has been affected by the twins’ experiment and he tells them why he’s now refusing to work with major food companies as a sensory consultant.

When Xand pops round for tea one evening, Chris’s five-year-old daughter shares some home truths about her dad and uncle’s relationship and it prompts the twins to consider what else they need to improve in their lives.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Production team: Alexandra Quinn, Jo Rowntree, Hester Cant, Dan King and Maia Miller-Lewis

A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4.

With thanks to Voltage TV for use of their archive.

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 3 - How to change? Let it go...

S1. Ep 3 - How to change? Let it go...

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

play

05/31/22 • 28 min

Chris and Xand are doctors, scientists and identical twins. Well, not quite identical. Xand is 20kg heavier, clinically obese, and has a Covid induced heart condition.

Chris believes that the reason Xand is overweight is the same reason that most of us in the UK are overweight - Ultra Processed Food or UPF. It’s the main thing that we now eat and feed to our children, but most of us have never heard of it. It’s addictive, highly profitable and the main cause of the global obesity pandemic. It’s destroying our bodies, our brains and the environment.

In this series, recorded during the first coronavirus lockdown of 2020, Chris wants to help his brother quit UPF and get his health back. So, he has a plan. In an attempt to turn Xand's life around, Chris persuades his brother to eat a diet comprising 80% Ultra-processed food while learning about every aspect of it. By doing this, Chris tests two theories - that Xand is addicted to UPF, and that eating more of the stuff while learning about it, will help him quit. Chris believes that the science shows UPF is addictive and harmful to the body, not least by driving excess consumption and weight gain. By speaking with the world’s leading experts on obesity and nutrition, Xand will learn what UPF is made of, how it’s produced, whether it’s addictive, what it does to the human brain and body and how it is the number one force driving global obesity.

In episode three - How to change? Let it go... - Chris and Xand have an emotional conversation about why this project is important and hard for both of them to undertake. They speak separately to Alasdair Cant, a behaviour change expert, about how we decide to become different people. Alasdair also speaks to Chris about how he, like many family members, may be holding Xand back from making the necessary changes in his life to get healthier.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Produced by Hester Cant Executive Producers Philly Beaumont and Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 4 - Building an ultra processed body

S1. Ep 4 - Building an ultra processed body

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

play

05/31/22 • 28 min

Chris and Xand are doctors, scientists and identical twins. Well, not quite identical. Xand is 20kg heavier, clinically obese, and has a Covid induced heart condition.

Chris believes that the reason Xand is overweight is the same reason that most of us in the UK are overweight - Ultra Processed Food or UPF. It’s the main thing that we now eat and feed to our children, but most of us have never heard of it. It’s addictive, highly profitable and the main cause of the global obesity pandemic. It’s destroying our bodies, our brains and the environment.

In this series, recorded during the first coronavirus lockdown of 2020, Chris wants to help his brother quit UPF and get his health back. So, he has a plan. In an attempt to turn Xand's life around, Chris persuades his brother to eat a diet comprising 80% Ultra-processed food while learning about every aspect of it. By doing this, Chris tests two theories - that Xand is addicted to UPF, and that eating more of the stuff while learning about it, will help him quit. Chris believes that the science shows UPF is addictive and harmful to the body, not least by driving excess consumption and weight gain. By speaking with the world’s leading experts on obesity and nutrition, Xand will learn what UPF is made of, how it’s produced, whether it’s addictive, what it does to the human brain and body and how it is the number one force driving global obesity.

In episode four - Building an ultra-processed body - Xand starts the diet, eating 80% UPF while continuing to learn about it. Chris thinks the diet will work because he’s done it, subsisting on a junk food diet for four weeks while investigating the causes of childhood obesity in a BBC TV documentary. In order to understand the direct effect UPF is having on his body - appetite, hormones and weight - Xand speaks to obesity expert, Dr Janine Makaronidis from University College London. Xand also interviews Dr Kevin Hall from the National Institute of Health in the US about his ground-breaking research into the consumption of UPF. Kevin was the first scientist to prove that UPF causes weight gain.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Produced by Hester Cant Executive Producers Philly Beaumont and Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - Introducing... Fed with Chris van Tulleken

Introducing... Fed with Chris van Tulleken

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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12/18/23 • 28 min

Dr Chris van Tulleken is on a mission to find out what we’re eating, why, and who or what might be influencing our decisions. And he’s starting his quest to uncover food truths with the most eaten meat in the world, and one of the most numerous animals on our planet: chicken

He’s recently been forced to confront a serious gap in his food knowledge - what happens before it gets to our plates - and has decided this, the world’s most popular meat, is an ideal starting point.

Chris’ initial investigations reveal the vast scale of modern chicken consumption; and how a once revered jungle fowl was manipulated to become a modern food success story, a fast-growing heavy-breasted beast to feed the masses.

Now, he's torn: is this a triumph of human ingenuity – or the creation of a monster?

Produced by Lucy Taylor and Emily Knight.

Archive audio: 'Chicken of Tomorrow' (1948) from the Prelinger Archive. 'Fanny Cradock Cooks for Christmas' (1975) from the BBC.

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S1. Ep 2 - UPF is not food

S1. Ep 2 - UPF is not food

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

play

05/31/22 • 28 min

Chris and Xand are doctors, scientists and identical twins. Well, not quite identical. Xand is 20kg heavier, clinically obese, and has a Covid induced heart condition.

Chris believes that the reason Xand is overweight is the same reason that most of us in the UK are overweight - Ultra Processed Food or UPF. It’s the main thing that we now eat and feed to our children, but most of us have never heard of it. It’s addictive, highly profitable and the main cause of the global obesity pandemic. It’s destroying our bodies, our brains and the environment.

In this series, recorded during the first coronavirus lockdown of 2020, Chris wants to help his brother quit UPF and get his health back. So, he has a plan. In an attempt to turn Xand's life around, Chris persuades his brother to eat a diet comprising 80% Ultra-processed food while learning about every aspect of it. By doing this, Chris tests two theories - that Xand is addicted to UPF, and that eating more of the stuff while learning about it, will help him quit. Chris believes that the science shows UPF is addictive and harmful to the body, not least by driving excess consumption and weight gain. By speaking with the world’s leading experts on obesity and nutrition, Xand will learn what UPF is made of, how it’s produced, whether it’s addictive, what it does to the human brain and body and how it is the number one force driving global obesity.

In episode 2 – UPF is not food - Chris and Xand meet Professor of Chemistry Andrea Sella to try to understand some of the more complex ingredients in Ultra Processed Food and the lies they tell us about when we are full and satisfied. Dr Fernanda Rauber was on the team who "discovered" UPF, and explains why it exists and that perhaps we are thinking about it in the wrong way - that it’s not food, it's an industrial formulation of chemicals.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken Produced by Hester Cant Executive Producers Philly Beaumont and Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media and van Tulleken Brothers Ltd production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - S3. Ep 4 - Too Late to Change?

S3. Ep 4 - Too Late to Change?

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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02/27/24 • 28 min

Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken investigate the science of exercise and the dangers of inactivity.

Is modern exercise a wellness cult? Or is it a vital cure for a world that’s struggling with ill health and stuck on the sofa? Most of us might like to get a bit fitter, but how easy is it to actually start exercising and give up sedentary habits? In this series Drs Chris and Xand Van Tulleken examine exercise and how best to do it. How much should we be doing? How does it help our bodies? And how does our surrounding environment stand in the way of us getting fitter? Chris is challenged to examine his scepticism towards exercise. Similarly, Xand is asked to look at his new-found exercise evangelism and see what he is really running from. Recently Xand has discovered the joys of physical activity. He’s running, cycling, heading to the gym and playing ping pong like never before. It’s been a real transformation and a way to keep on top of things after years of unhealthy living. His twin brother Chris, on the other hand, is really feeling the aches and pains of middle age. With a busy job and a young family, he has precious little spare time for exercise. After a very active period in his 20s and 30s, Chris is now embracing his ‘Dad bod’ and sliding into a creaky middle age. Xand wants to help him turn things around. Can he do it?

In Episode 4 - Too Late to Change? - the twins meet up with their younger brother J for a session on an exercise bike. This has been a big part of Xand’s journey back to fitness. Will it inspire Chris to become more active? Chris then meets up with Sir Muir Gray, Director of the Optimal Aging Programme and an advisor to Public Health England. Muir shows Chris just how important exercise is for an ageing society.

Presented by Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Producer: Tom Woolfenden Sound Design: Dan King Series Editor: Jo Rowntree A Van Tulleken Brothers and Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand - Preview Episode: Sideways - A Small Bowl of Rocket

Preview Episode: Sideways - A Small Bowl of Rocket

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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03/09/23 • 29 min

In Sideways, the best-selling author Matthew Syed explores the ideas that shape our lives with stories of seeing the world differently. A Small Bowl of Rocket is an episode from the latest series. To hear more, search for 'Sideways' on BBC Sounds. Lydia Harris has always struggled with food. For as long as she can remember, she has avoided fruit and vegetables - their texture simply disgusts her. But one day, that began to change, with a small bowl of rocket leaves. Eating is one of the greatest pleasures in life for many of us - but, at the same time, it's an arena fraught with choice and decision. No wonder that, as creatures of habit, many of us settle staunchly upon a shopping list of likes, and a mental bank of dislikes. But in this episode, Matthew Syed sticks his fork into the delicious world of food, reminding us that taste is malleable. With an appetite for curiosity, Matthew thinks about how we can find greater joy in our three daily meals. With thanks to food writer Ruby Tandoh, Carolyn Korsmeyer (Professor of Philosophy at Buffalo University, New York) and Charles Spence (Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford). Presenter: Matthew Syed Producer: Nadia Mehdi Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey Sound Design and Mix: Naomi Clarke Theme music by Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4
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FAQ

How many episodes does A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand have?

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand currently has 30 episodes available.

What topics does A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand cover?

The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Podcasts and Science.

What is the most popular episode on A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand?

The episode title 'S1. Ep 1 - How did we get so different?' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand?

The average episode length on A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand is 25 minutes.

How often are episodes of A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand released?

Episodes of A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand are typically released every 6 days, 22 hours.

When was the first episode of A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand?

The first episode of A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand was released on May 24, 2022.

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