Daniel Lieberman - Is Exercise Medicine_.pdf

Is Exercise Medicine? UGHE, September 2, 2024 Daniel E. Lieberman Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Human Evolutionary Biology Why were we doing this?  How an...

Is Exercise Medicine? UGHE, September 2, 2024 Daniel E. Lieberman Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Human Evolutionary Biology Why were we doing this?  How and why is the human body the way it is? Experimental Comparative anatomy biomechanics & Fieldwork & paleontology physiology Relevance to health? Major interest: evolution of human physical activity Running Walking Throwing Sweating Carrying Sitting Breathing Chewing Swallowing Major concern: the physical activity transition in Africa TWO “WHY” QUESTIONS: Why did exercise evolve? Why is exercise increasingly healthy as we age?  Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution  including health & disease Nothing in biology^ makes sense except in the light of evolution Evolutionary medicine 1. The evolution of exercise and our unique metabolism 2. Active Grandparent Hypothesis Energy allocation: – obesity and inflammation + repair and maintenance 1. The evolution of exercise and our unique metabolism 2. Active Grandparent Hypothesis Energy allocation: – obesity and inflammation + repair and maintenance Our story starts about 7 million years ago Other mammals orangs gorillas chimpanzees 7 million years ago: chimp-like Last Common Ancestor  Apes don’t move very much! Chimpanzee climbing Daily Travel Distance Orangutans Gorillas ≈100 m/day Chimpanzees Humans 0 5 10 15 20 25 Kilometers/day Raichlen and Lieberman, 2023 Current Biology. Age (years)  Overall Physical Activity Levels PAL=Daily Energy Expenditure/Basal Metabolic Rate ≈2-3 1.5