Happy New Year! For many of us, a new year brings a renewed sense of motivation when it comes to health. Earlier this year, Russ sat down to speak with Jonathan Long, a Stanford biochemist who studies the chemicals produced during exercise. The conversation was one of our most popular during 2024 and today we’re re-sharing it. As many of us look to create healthy habits in 2025, we hope you’ll tune in to hear the exciting research Professor Long is doing to better understand the deep chemical connections between diet, exercise, and human health.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Russ Altman introduces guest Johnathan Long, a professor of pathology at Stanford University.
(00:01:55) Effective Weight Loss Drugs
The history and development of GLP-1 receptor agonists.
(00:03:27) Understanding Metabolism and Exercise
The role of metabolic chemicals released during physical activity.
(00:05:02) Animal Models in Exercise Studies
The use of animal models in exercise studies and the discovery of Lac-Phe.
(00:06:40) Psychological Preparation for Exercise
The psychology of exercise preparation and the involvement of endocannabinoids.
(00:08:53) Lac-Phe's Role and Mechanism
Lac-Phe’s role in suppressing appetite and its production in the gut.
(00:11:46) Differences in Exercise Response
Exercise response between trained athletes and untrained individuals.
(00:12:50) Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases
The relationship between diabetes, exercise, and metabolic diseases.
(00:14:54) Lac-Phe as a Potential Therapeutic
Lac-Phe’s potential and parallels to the early stages of GLP-1 drug development.
(00:16:13) Importance of How Weight is Lost
The importance of losing fat while preserving lean muscle mass.
(00:19:04) Exercise as Medicine
The need to define physical activity at the same resolution as modern medicines.
(00:22:03) Metformin and Exercise Pathways
The unexpected connection between metformin and the Lac-Phe pathway.
(00:23:53) Prospects of an Exercise Pill
The future of an exercise pill, and challenges associated with its development.
(00:26:57) Conclusion
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