#17 - Dr. Maria Fiatarone Singh: Exercise Across the Lifespan

Dr. Maria Fiatarone Singh is a geriatrician specializing in exercise science to treat her patients. As a physician, researcher, and professor, Maria has led clinical trials in the US, Australia, Norway, and France. She has her own private practice clinic where she prescribes exercise to patients and is the chair of exercise and sports science at the University of Sydney. 

In this episode, I learn about the science of exercise and its effect on the body throughout the lifespan. Maria talks about the role of exercise on key conditions such as frailty and high blood pressure, and she breaks down the importance of exercise for the heart, bone, brain, metabolism, and skeletal muscle. She even emphasizes that exercise can have a bigger impact than antidepressants in metal health treatment. Maria also explains to me why doctors don’t prescribe exercise and why our medical education system fails us. 

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Episode Introduction

(00:01:26) Importance of Strength Training Across the Lifespan

(00:04:11) Frailty

(00:08:32) Genetics Related to Exercising

(00:12:22) Blue Zones

(00:15:21) Strength vs. Muscle size

(00:18:31) Effects of Exercise on the Brain

(00:20:06) Goals of Exercise by Age Group

(00:26:01) Bone Health

(00:30:08) Skeletal Muscle Health

(00:34:27) Cardiovascular Health

(00:39:47) Blood pressure and Isometric Exercise

(00:45:11) 21 Year Old Optimal Training Routine

(00:52:09) Balance Training and Stretching

(00:59:38) Racket Sports

(01:01:33) Prescribing Exercise in Medicine

(01:06:10) Why Doctors Don’t Prescribe Exercise

(01:09:35) Big Pharma Influence on Medical Education

(01:15:05) Mental Health and Big Pharma

(01:21:50) Outro

Linktree: linktr.ee/gustavofrancopod

Chapters

• 0:00 Episode Introduction
• 1:26 Importance of Strength Training Across the Lifespan
• 4:11 Frailty
• 8:32 Genetics Related to Exercising
• 12:22 Blue Zones
• 15:21 Strength vs. Muscle Size
• 18:31 Effects of Exercise on the Brain
• 20:06 Goals of Exercise by Age Group
• 26:01 Bone Health
• 30:08 Skeletal Muscle Health
• 34:27 Cardiovascular Health
• 39:47 Blood Pressure and Isometric Exercise
• 45:11 21 Year Old Optimal Training Protocol
• 52:09 Balance Training and Stretching
• 59:38 Racket Sports
• 1:01:33 Prescribing Exercise in Medicine
• 1:06:10 Why Doctors Don't Prescribe Exercise
• 1:09:35 Big Pharma Influence on Medical Education
• 1:15:05 Mental Health and Big Pharma
• 1:21:50 Outro