Struggling to keep weight off long term? Join me in Episode #335 as I sit down with Kevin Maki, PhD and Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD to discuss the science behind successful fat loss and maintenance. We explore evidence-based strategies to lose body fat and keep it off, focusing on the roles of nutrition, exercise, and pharmacological interventions, with practical tips to help you achieve lasting results.
“The idea that obesity is a character flaw is just simply not correct.” Dr Kevin Maki
Dr Kevin Maki is the Founder and Chief Scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research and an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health. A past president of the National Lipid Association, he’s an expert in human nutrition and chronic disease research. Dr Carol Kirkpatrick is a clinical scientist at Midwest Biomedical Clinical Research and adjunct faculty at Idaho State University. A registered dietitian nutritionist and clinical lipid specialist, she has authored numerous guidelines for managing cardiometabolic risk through nutrition. Together, they offer deep expertise on weight management and cardiovascular health.
“If you add protein in exchange for carbohydrate in a meal, you will get… greater satiety, less hunger.” Dr Kevin Maki
In this episode, you’ll learn how protein and fibre influence hunger, the role of exercise in improving insulin sensitivity, and how medications like GLP-1 agonists can support weight loss. Dr Maki and Dr Kirkpatrick offer practical tips for making long-term dietary changes and managing weight through balanced macronutrients. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or keep it off, this episode gives you science-based strategies to succeed.
Specifically, we cover:
- Introductions (00:00)
- Carol’s Journey into Nutrition and Research Development (04:27)
- Kevin’s Path in Cardiometabolic Health Research (11:53)
- The Importance of Observational Studies in Nutrition (14:59)
- Understanding Dietary Fats and Cardiometabolic Health (19:49)
- Public Health Nutrition: Current Challenges and Opportunities (31:55)
- Exploring Obesity and Its Impact on Metabolic Health (43:19)
- How Exercise Enhances Insulin Sensitivity (53:35)
- The Link Between Insulin Resistance and Ectopic Fat (55:01)
- Weight Loss Challenges: Why It’s So Hard to Keep the Weight Off (01:01:05)
- How GLP-1 Agonists Are Transforming Obesity Treatment (01:04:02)
- Behavioural Aspects of Obesity: Understanding the Psychology (01:11:22)
- The 30-30-30 Study: A New Approach to Sustainable Weight Loss (01:24:44)
- Cholesterol, Fibre, and Cardiovascular Health (01:44:02)
- Protein Supplements and How They Affect Digestion (01:46:56)
- Dietary Patterns and Regulating Appetite for Better Health (01:49:23)
- Exploring the 30-30-30 Framework for Weight Loss (01:51:49)
- How Protein Sources Influence Metabolic Health (01:57:53)
- Carbohydrate Quality vs. Restriction: What Matters More? (02:14:57)
- Exercise for Weight Maintenance and Long-term Health (02:27:12)
- The Future of Nutrition Research and Public Health (02:30:25)
- Final Thoughts (02:35:10)
Thank you to Dr Kevin Maki and Dr Carol Kirkpatrick for sharing their expertise in this episode. I have been following their work for quite some time, and it’s a pleasure to hear their insights on the science of weight loss, straight from the source.
Connect with Kevin Maki, PhD on LinkedIn and at https://www.mbclinicalresearch.com/. Connect with Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.
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More about Kevin C Maki, PhD, CLS, MNLA, FTOS
Kevin C Maki, PhD is the Founder and Chief Scientist for Midwest Biomedical Research (Chicago, Illinois). He specializes in the design and conduct of clinical studies in human nutrition, metabolism, and chronic disease risk factor management. Dr Maki is also Adjunct Professor and Dean’s Eminent Scholar in the Department of Applied Health Science at the Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, Indiana. He is a Master of the National Lipid Association, a Fellow of The Obesity Society, as well as a certified Clinical Lipid Specialist. He is a past President of the National Lipid Association (2022-2023) and is the Co- Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.
Dr Maki has participated in more than 300 clinical trials and observational studies as an investigator, consultant, or statistician, and has published more than 350 scientific papers, books, and book chapters. He earned a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health, and an MS in Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiovascular Health from Benedictine University.
More about Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLS, FNLA
Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLS, FNLA, is a clinical scientist for Midwest Biomedical Clinical Research and adjunct faculty in the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences (KDHS) at Idaho State University. As a registered dietitian nutritionist and clinical lipid specialist, Dr Kirkpatrick specializes in cardiovascular nutrition and was the coordinator of the Cardiovascular Risk Management Clinic at Pocatello Cardiology from 2007-2013. As a member of the National Lipid Association (NLA), she has contributed to many NLA projects and holds several NLA leadership positions. Dr Kirkpatrick was a member of the Expert Panel for the nutrition section of the NLA Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia – Part 2 and lead author for the NLA Scientific Statement, Review of Current Evidence and Clinical Recommendations on the Effects of Low-Carbohydrate and Very-Low-Carbohydrate (including Ketogenic) Diets for the Management of Body Weight and Other Cardiometabolic Risk Factors. Most recently, Dr Kirkpatrick was co-chair for the NLA Clinical Perspective, Nutrition Interventions for Adults with Dyslipidemia. Dr Kirkpatrick is a Fellow of the NLA.
Dr Kirkpatrick has also been involved in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and served as the chair of the Evidence Analysis Library Saturated Fat Workgroup, which evaluated the current scientific evidence for the effects of saturated fat on cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes. Additionally, she served as a member of the Lifestyle Nutrition Committee for the American Heart Association’s Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health.
Dr Kirkpatrick earned a PhD in Health Education from the University of Idaho and an MPH from Idaho State University.
