Why We Lose Muscle–And How to Keep It

About this episode

Strength training prevents frailty as we age. Wards off cognitive decline. Improves glucose control, and more. But what is actually happening inside our bodies when we lift weights? And why is everyone suddenly talking about getting strong? In this episode, 1440 Health & Medicine Editor Dina Fine Maron digs into the science and surprising history of getting strong. She explores how resistance training complements aerobic exercises like running, its role in the era of GLP-1s, and how attitudes toward lifting have evolved–from ancient Olympian might to circus spectacle to fears that big muscles make athletes stiff and slow. Guests: Daniel Lieberman, a human evolutionary biologist at Harvard University. Amanda Paluch, a kinesiologist who studies physical fitness at UMass Amherst. Additional resources: https://join1440.com/t/resistance-training https://join1440.com/t/exercise Daniel Lieberman's books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2324321/daniel-e-lieberman/ Credits: A production of Rhyme Media for 1440 Media Host: Dina Fine Maron Producer: Nicolo Majnoni Editor: Dan Bobkoff Fact-Checker: Alice Jones Sound Designer: Jay Cowit Executive Producers (1440): Sony Ka