A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

Chris and Xand are back! And events over the last two years have got them thinking a lot about their mortality. So Chris has been diligently working with a lawyer to make his will, Xand's however is non-existent… Chris gets his brother over to ask him the most important questions in life...those about death. Chris has enlisted his lawyer, Abby Hammond, to convince Xand. She explains how many people don't think they need a will and helps the two of them think about what they want to happen when they die. Will Xand be convinced to finally write his own will?Plus, make sure you listen until the end to hear a special announcement from Chris and Xand about the future of A Thorough Examination… See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marion Nestle explains how UPF is not just a public health issue, it's an environmental disaster. She considers / recommends what needs to be done to combat the rocketing levels of obesity whilst ensuring sustainable healthy food production. Xand finishes the experiment...is he still addicted to UPF?Warning: This episode contains strong language. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Xand continues the experiment and speaks to Dr Nicole Avena, food addiction neurologist, about how our brains are affected by UPF in relation to other addictive behaviour. Both Chris and Xand also 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Xand starts an experiment, eating an 80% UPF diet whilst continuing to learn about it. He speaks to obesity expert, Dr Janine Makaronidis from University College London about the food's direct effect on his body, what it will do to his appetite, hormones and weight. He 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 to prove that UPF causes weight gain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris and Xand have an emotional conversation about why this project is important and hard for both of them. 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.Warning: This episode contains strong language. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris and Xand meet Professor of Chemistry Andrea Sella to try to understand some of the more complex ingredients in Ultra Processed Food aka UPF 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. It's not food - it's an industrial formulation of chemicals.Warning: This episode contains strong language. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris and Xand have the same genes but the largest weight difference of any twin pair studied in the UK. What happened? They speak to friend and geneticist Dr Giles Yeo to begin to understand the origins of Xand's (and everyone else's) size. How much is destiny, how much might we be able to control?(Many thanks to Little Gem TV for the use of a clip from the 2020 documentary, 'Surviving the Virus: My Brother, Covid and Me'). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to 'A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand'. The first series is "Addicted to Food", it's specifically about the growing global addiction to ultra processed food aka UPF. Chris thinks UPF is driving Xand's (and everyone else's) weight problem. So he proposes a simple experiment - that Xand goes on a final week long UPF binge whilst interviewing the world's leading experts on addiction, food, nutrition and weight. It's the nutritional equivalent of smoking 100 cigarettes whilst going on a quit smoking course. Simple right? Well it turns out to be far stranger and more emotional than either of them ever imagined...An See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.