A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand

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?

Episodes

May 24, 2022 • 3 mins

Chris van Tulleken is on a mission to get his twin, Xand, to quit ultra-processed food.

There’s a 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 ...

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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 addictiv...

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May 30, 2022 • 28 mins

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 addictiv...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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 addictiv...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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 addictiv...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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 addictiv...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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 addictiv...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 31, 2022 • 28 mins

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 els...

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November 29, 2022 • 4 mins

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore if people can change and how they do it. How much of our personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

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

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December 5, 2022 • 28 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2022 • 28 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2022 • 28 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2022 • 28 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2022 • 28 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2022 • 28 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2022 • 29 mins

Most of us would like something about ourselves or our lives to be different, but how easy is it to actually change?

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are looking at whether people can change and how they do it. Exactly how much of any aspect of personality is genetic destiny and how much are we shaped by the world around us?

Chris wants to be a better doctor, friend, husband and father. But most urgently he wants to be a better broth...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 9, 2023 • 28 mins

Chris and Xand van Tulleken recorded live at the Hay Festival. They’re reflecting on how much their lives have changed since they started recording their podcast, A Thorough Examination. Xand has lost almost three stone and Chris has written a book about ultra processed food, which was the cause of Xand’s weight gain. They’ve navigated serious health concerns, major bust-ups in their working and personal life an...

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Mark as Played
January 30, 2024 • 2 mins

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 i...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 6, 2024 • 28 mins

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 d...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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