How To Build Lasting Strength: What Hunter-Gatherers Can Teach Us About Movement, Exercise & Healthy Ageing with Professor Daniel Lieberman #514

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Health & Fitness, Medicine, Alternative Health, Mental Health

4.8 • 10.9K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2025

⏱️ 141 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why do we find it so hard to exercise despite knowing how good it is for us? Is sitting really the new smoking? And what can we learn about movement from studying populations who live more traditional lifestyles? My guest today is the brilliant Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Biological Science and Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research studies how and why the human body is the way that it is, focusing on the evolution of physical activities such as walking and running and their relevance to health and disease. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and three books, including his most recent, Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved To Do is Healthy and Rewarding. In this conversation, we cover so many fascinating topics and explore the powerful idea that humans have not actually evolved to exercise. We compare the sitting habits of modern humans with more traditional societies and Daniel shares why it may not be how long we sit for that is causing us problems, but more the way in which we choose to sit. We also talk about the profound importance of maintaining strength and activity as we age, the relationship between movement and cancer, the truth about barefoot running and minimalist shoes and the concept of 'mismatch diseases' - this idea that our modern environment is in direct conflict with our evolutionary design, and the impact this is having on our wellbeing. Throughout the conversation, Daniel challenges many common beliefs that exist around health, and offers us evidence-based, practical strategies for building a healthier relationship with physical activity. Whether you're interested in the science of movement, looking to build sustainable exercise habits into your life, or simply curious about how our ancestors lived, this is a truly wonderful conversation with one of the world’s most highly respected experts. I hope you enjoy listening. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. This January, try FREE for 30 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Thanks to our sponsors: http://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://thriva.co https://calm.com/livemore https://drinkag1.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/514 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Transcript

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0:00.0	There is no one number of steps to take per day. Ten thousand steps a day came from, there
0:04.7	was this accelerometer that was created in Japan just before the Olympics in 64. The story is that
0:11.2	apparently in this company, they were sitting around and deciding what to call it. And apparently
0:15.1	10,000 is an auspicious number in Japanese. And they said, well, let's call it the 10,000 steps meter.
0:19.6	Look, the evidence on exercise is pretty darn clear, right? Anything is better than nothing, right? If you're, if you're
0:25.0	completely sedentary, more steps a day, climbing the stairs, you know, parking your car further
0:30.2	away from the shopping, anything is better than nothing. More is better. And at a certain point,
0:35.5	the benefits seem to tail off.
0:44.1	Hey guys, how you doing? I hope you having a good week so far. My name is Dr. Rongan Chatterjee, and this is my podcast, Feel Better, Live More. Why do we find it so hard to exercise, despite knowing how good it is for us?
0:57.4	It's sitting really the new smoking, and what can we learn about movement from studying populations
1:03.5	who live more traditional lifestyles?
1:07.1	Today's guest on my podcast is the brilliant Daniel Lieberman,
1:12.3	Professor of Biological Science and Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
1:20.6	Daniel's research studies how and why the human body is the way it is,
1:27.5	focusing on the evolution of physical activities such as walking and running
1:31.8	and their relevance to health and disease.
1:35.5	He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers
1:38.7	and three books, including his most recent, exercised.
1:43.3	Why something we never evolved to do is healthy and rewarding.
1:49.0	In this conversation, we cover so many fascinating topics and explore the powerful idea
1:55.4	that we humans have not actually evolved to exercise. We compare the sitting habits of modern humans with more traditional societies,
2:06.3	and Daniel shares why it may not be how long we sits for that is causing us problems,
	...

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