The mindbodygreen Podcast 624: VO2 max, wearables, & eliminating heart disease risk | Peter Attia, M.D.
Nov 16, 2025
Peter Attia, M.D., a physician and longevity expert, dives into the critical role of VO2 max as a lifespan predictor. He explains how to enhance VO2 max through interval training and emphasizes the limit of exercise, even comparing it to pharmaceuticals. Attia shares insights on cardiovascular markers like ApoB and Lp(a) and the evolving views on GLP-1s for neuroprotection. With a focus on practicality, he highlights the underestimated power of structured exercise while adding his humorous takes on life and fitness.
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Exercise Is The Most Powerful Longevity Lever
- Exercise impacts many systems, which likely explains why it's the most powerful longevity lever.
- Peter Attia says mechanistic insights may grow, but exercise will remain irreplaceable.
VO2 Max Is Top Lifespan Predictor
- VO2 max remains the single best predictor of lifespan because of abundant, standardized longitudinal data.
- Attia notes strength follows VO2 max in predictive power but data richness makes VO2 max dominant.
Hit 25–30 Minutes Of Hard Intervals Weekly
- Structure high-intensity aerobic work to yield 25–30 minutes of very hard effort weekly using intervals (e.g., 3x8min or 6x4min).
- Vary modalities (bike, swim) and aim for consistent, hard interval pacing to raise VO2 max.
