I think the term longevity medicine has been taken over by influencers, podcasters, and celebrities. But there’s really nothing new about it. Helping people live longer and healthier lives through prevention has always been the core of primary care. Family doctors have been doing this work every day for decades—we just call it primary care, which unfortunately isn’t as catchy.
Agree! I tell my students that community primary care isn’t sexy (for example no one will ever make an HBO series about a primary care clinic) but that it is the place where you will actually make a difference. It just takes a bit longer.
I’m a family doctor myself. I practiced in Canada until I moved to New Zealand three years ago.
There was a very good study published in 2019, and nothing has changed much since then. If anything things got worse giving opportunity to noctors jump in and fill the gap. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, or anywhere else.
I love this quote from the article, which is particularly appropriate when discussing lifestyle medicine:
“In the United States, primary care is like healthy food. We all know it’s good for us, but most Americans prefer the burger on the menu over the salad.”
It is true, as an American myself I do prefer the burger. But I serve a population who literally has no access to healthy food because they live in food deserts (we actually opened a food pantry at our clinic site because of this). So often they have no choice but to eat the burger. Or eat nothing at all. The American healthcare system is not the only reason my patients are suffering.
I hadn’t seen anything about Attia and Epstein yet, so I’m very grateful to you for focusing on this, especially since I live in Austin where Attia is deified by many. In fact, the wellness clinic building where I teach classical Pilates is changing its name to Austin Longevity Clinic, a change that I believe is a direct influence of Attia on the owners of the building. I had an icky but sometimes ambivalent feeling about Attia before—now I am absolutely repulsed. (To be clear, I work in the building but am an independent contractor at a studio that rents space there.)
Someone made an excellent point on another social media platform where they said that by associating with Epstein in this way, people normalized his behavior and made it easier for him to continue moving in the circles that he needed to move in to continue raping children and I can’t stop thinking about that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps quiet. There are going to be more “viral” leaks from these files and he could easily be forgotten in the short term. I do not think it will impact his image with his existing fan base either. He can just keep making the rounds on the podcast bro scene.
I had never heard of this guy before your post. Did a quick search and glad he's never come across my algorithms, he seems as ick as you say.
I fail to understand the longevity people, my grandmother lived to 105 and was sad & lonely. Most her siblings had died, her friends were gone, the world had moved so far past her she didn't understand most of it in her final years. I can't imagine and don't care for it.
Same here. My grandmother lived to be 102 and also was sad and lonely.. mind you she also had macular degeneration and couldn’t read anymore and had hearing loss so listening to audiobooks was hard for her as well. However her mind was still strong and her body still functioned well enough. Living long is not all it’s cracked up to be…
I love this: 'The modern version of longevity also largely ignores well-known factors that shorten lifespan and affect quality of life, such as poverty, violence against women, and environmental hazards, and instead frames longevity as a reward for discipline, which is code for wealth.'
I have been thinking about this a lot in the context of metabolic disease, poverty and GLP1 agonists.
Which isn't squarely in the subject of your excellent essay, but evocative. Thank you for your clear-eyed perspective.
I’m a longtime fan of Attia’s work. I had actually personally benefited from one of his podcasts in a significant way. The fascination with Attia which as you say you can’t understand boils down to the fact that he is able to analyze and communicate science/medical information on a level that not a lot of people come close to. No residency or board certification will change that. There is a reason why world class experts come on his show. The Attia Epstein emails are disgusting, embarrassing and inexcusable. I will be unsubscribing from all Attia content and truly hope that there are consequences for his actions. It’s all very disappointing.
I feel 100% the same way. I'm so disappointed as I really had taken guidance from many of his guests. Recently, he had on Dr. Sally Greenwald who spoke about women's sexual health and I thought she was excellent, but his mansplaining drove me crazy. I was already close to cancelling my paid subscription to his full content just based on that, and this disgusting deeper reveal at who he really is has convinced me to now do so.
Attia always made my skin crawl. Never exactly knew why, but he seemed smug and now pretty repulsive. Agree on the 'bro' factor of longevity hacks - it always struck me as kind of silly and extremely self centred. At the end of the day, we all pass. Let's see if Attia is the big dick he thinks he is by how he responds to these claims.
I really appreciate this post… (random thoughts: wonders what kinds of multi drug resistant antimicrobial cocktail do I need after reading all that…. & wonders about Huberman).
I can help with this. I sometimes do research and listen to podcasts to help Jen with her articles. I find a steady stream of cat, dog and owl IG feeds tend to do the trick. No supplements are needed! I only recently added the owls to my feed and they are surprisingly cute. In the spirit of evidence based advice, I should note this is only anecdotal and I have no clinical trial data. This is retrospective with an N of 1.
Your idea ideas are appreciated but these disturbed characters land in the world of vancomycin… posaconazole & other last ditch anti microbial a that are often fatally toxic to the patient. Of course I’m in the middle of fighting a psychopath, enabled by a few horrific attorneys…so please pardon the darkness of my tone.
I can’t believe how even just one other human has liked my comment All I can say is every like has been helpful.
I’m going through an insanely tough time right now against someone of the same ilk as Epstein & Co. I can’t articulate even a fraction of it, though I did come across an old email that is something similar to JG’s post. And found all sorts of alarming online writings that I saved copies of. I have no idea if &/or how I will make it to the other side of it all.
I don’t even know why I am making this reply to my own comment but there it is.
Everyone be well take care. I am as hard-core, evidence based, science nerd as they come but once in a while, pay attention to that little voice that hints to you that something, someone is off-kilter. In memory of my beloved Rowan… ~jpw
Allllll that!! And community and public health are the antitheses of the arrogant, racist, sexist individualism of the obscenely wealthy, the Epstein class.
You are such a powerfully clear voice in a deranged world.
I am disappointed because, I, like many people, have read his book and listened with enthusiasm regularly to his podcasts. I unfollowed him and I could not listen to him anymore knowing all of this. This is crazy.
Once again, BRAVO for all your detailed research and sleuthing. I am so impressed by how you drill down to the important and consequential issues. I read everything you write and encourage my friends and former patients (I'm a retired OBGYN) to read your posts. Thank you for shining a light on this issue of longevity medicine and the false narrative of self-determination when it is really all about the luck of wealth. I hope your honest writing helps Attia fade away.
60 Minutes did a puff piece about this charlatan and CBS recently hired him (well, Bari Weiss did - that tracks). I hope CBS deeply regrets their decisions.
My grandmother died at 94. She had grown up poor, in a rural area. Her work "outside the home," included picking crops, working in a canning factory, and serving as domestic help, until she came to live with my parents, when I was on the way. At that point, her income ceased. (I'm old, and back then, not everyone had SS). She retained all of her marbles until the day she died. No weird treatments, no supplements, no yearly tests, not much of anything - except an occasional treat of a bottle of beer and "blind robins (salted smoked Atlantic herring)." Seems to me that those wealthy looking at longevity ignore genetics, in favor of the idea that a few dollars makes one a superior physical specimen.
I used to work at a veteran’s hospital where several men lived beyond 100. One of told me the secret to a long life was a daily cigar and “a wee brandy”. Haha! Personally I think it’s mostly genetics.
Attia gives the impression that he knows more than the establishment. He has a “team” that delves “deep into the research” which seems to greatly appeal to people and make them want to spend money. This feels like the same playbook as other medical and wellness influencers. Standards of care rooted in good research just isn’t sexy for marketing I guess 🤷🏼♀️ I didn’t realize CBS linked to Epstein previously-makes the recent connection between him and CBS extra curious now.
A number of patients tried to sell me on Attia and his book (before I retired) and it was obvious to me immediately that he was just the next in a long line of charlatan M.D.'s taking advantage of (wealthy) people's medical fears! So often these discussions took up valuable time in the exam rooms that would have been better spent discussing real medicine!
I had seen his name before, but I can't remember where or exactly what I read. However, the above did not come as a surprise, so it must have been something similar.
The number of well-to-do misogynists and predators who skate away from their offenses, unharmed, and often unknown, is frightening.
I think the term longevity medicine has been taken over by influencers, podcasters, and celebrities. But there’s really nothing new about it. Helping people live longer and healthier lives through prevention has always been the core of primary care. Family doctors have been doing this work every day for decades—we just call it primary care, which unfortunately isn’t as catchy.
Agree! I tell my students that community primary care isn’t sexy (for example no one will ever make an HBO series about a primary care clinic) but that it is the place where you will actually make a difference. It just takes a bit longer.
I’m a family doctor myself. I practiced in Canada until I moved to New Zealand three years ago.
There was a very good study published in 2019, and nothing has changed much since then. If anything things got worse giving opportunity to noctors jump in and fill the gap. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, or anywhere else.
I love this quote from the article, which is particularly appropriate when discussing lifestyle medicine:
“In the United States, primary care is like healthy food. We all know it’s good for us, but most Americans prefer the burger on the menu over the salad.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2019/04/08/primary-care-does-anyone-care/
It is true, as an American myself I do prefer the burger. But I serve a population who literally has no access to healthy food because they live in food deserts (we actually opened a food pantry at our clinic site because of this). So often they have no choice but to eat the burger. Or eat nothing at all. The American healthcare system is not the only reason my patients are suffering.
(Also, I know Forbes was speaking metaphorically…trying to make a point before morning coffee is a bad idea for me…)
I hadn’t seen anything about Attia and Epstein yet, so I’m very grateful to you for focusing on this, especially since I live in Austin where Attia is deified by many. In fact, the wellness clinic building where I teach classical Pilates is changing its name to Austin Longevity Clinic, a change that I believe is a direct influence of Attia on the owners of the building. I had an icky but sometimes ambivalent feeling about Attia before—now I am absolutely repulsed. (To be clear, I work in the building but am an independent contractor at a studio that rents space there.)
Someone made an excellent point on another social media platform where they said that by associating with Epstein in this way, people normalized his behavior and made it easier for him to continue moving in the circles that he needed to move in to continue raping children and I can’t stop thinking about that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps quiet. There are going to be more “viral” leaks from these files and he could easily be forgotten in the short term. I do not think it will impact his image with his existing fan base either. He can just keep making the rounds on the podcast bro scene.
Can't wait to see the spin coming. I'm sure that's why he hasn't issued a statement yet.
You should see the comments on his IG account. Check out the very first post. It's about AI.
Blah blah blah. Deflect without answering the actual allegation. He should hire new PR people.
I had never heard of this guy before your post. Did a quick search and glad he's never come across my algorithms, he seems as ick as you say.
I fail to understand the longevity people, my grandmother lived to 105 and was sad & lonely. Most her siblings had died, her friends were gone, the world had moved so far past her she didn't understand most of it in her final years. I can't imagine and don't care for it.
Same here. My grandmother lived to be 102 and also was sad and lonely.. mind you she also had macular degeneration and couldn’t read anymore and had hearing loss so listening to audiobooks was hard for her as well. However her mind was still strong and her body still functioned well enough. Living long is not all it’s cracked up to be…
I love this: 'The modern version of longevity also largely ignores well-known factors that shorten lifespan and affect quality of life, such as poverty, violence against women, and environmental hazards, and instead frames longevity as a reward for discipline, which is code for wealth.'
I have been thinking about this a lot in the context of metabolic disease, poverty and GLP1 agonists.
Which isn't squarely in the subject of your excellent essay, but evocative. Thank you for your clear-eyed perspective.
Hoping this will be the subject of one of her next essays.
I’m a longtime fan of Attia’s work. I had actually personally benefited from one of his podcasts in a significant way. The fascination with Attia which as you say you can’t understand boils down to the fact that he is able to analyze and communicate science/medical information on a level that not a lot of people come close to. No residency or board certification will change that. There is a reason why world class experts come on his show. The Attia Epstein emails are disgusting, embarrassing and inexcusable. I will be unsubscribing from all Attia content and truly hope that there are consequences for his actions. It’s all very disappointing.
I feel 100% the same way. I'm so disappointed as I really had taken guidance from many of his guests. Recently, he had on Dr. Sally Greenwald who spoke about women's sexual health and I thought she was excellent, but his mansplaining drove me crazy. I was already close to cancelling my paid subscription to his full content just based on that, and this disgusting deeper reveal at who he really is has convinced me to now do so.
Attia always made my skin crawl. Never exactly knew why, but he seemed smug and now pretty repulsive. Agree on the 'bro' factor of longevity hacks - it always struck me as kind of silly and extremely self centred. At the end of the day, we all pass. Let's see if Attia is the big dick he thinks he is by how he responds to these claims.
I really appreciate this post… (random thoughts: wonders what kinds of multi drug resistant antimicrobial cocktail do I need after reading all that…. & wonders about Huberman).
I can help with this. I sometimes do research and listen to podcasts to help Jen with her articles. I find a steady stream of cat, dog and owl IG feeds tend to do the trick. No supplements are needed! I only recently added the owls to my feed and they are surprisingly cute. In the spirit of evidence based advice, I should note this is only anecdotal and I have no clinical trial data. This is retrospective with an N of 1.
Your idea ideas are appreciated but these disturbed characters land in the world of vancomycin… posaconazole & other last ditch anti microbial a that are often fatally toxic to the patient. Of course I’m in the middle of fighting a psychopath, enabled by a few horrific attorneys…so please pardon the darkness of my tone.
I can’t believe how even just one other human has liked my comment All I can say is every like has been helpful.
I’m going through an insanely tough time right now against someone of the same ilk as Epstein & Co. I can’t articulate even a fraction of it, though I did come across an old email that is something similar to JG’s post. And found all sorts of alarming online writings that I saved copies of. I have no idea if &/or how I will make it to the other side of it all.
I don’t even know why I am making this reply to my own comment but there it is.
Everyone be well take care. I am as hard-core, evidence based, science nerd as they come but once in a while, pay attention to that little voice that hints to you that something, someone is off-kilter. In memory of my beloved Rowan… ~jpw
Allllll that!! And community and public health are the antitheses of the arrogant, racist, sexist individualism of the obscenely wealthy, the Epstein class.
You are such a powerfully clear voice in a deranged world.
I am disappointed because, I, like many people, have read his book and listened with enthusiasm regularly to his podcasts. I unfollowed him and I could not listen to him anymore knowing all of this. This is crazy.
Once again, BRAVO for all your detailed research and sleuthing. I am so impressed by how you drill down to the important and consequential issues. I read everything you write and encourage my friends and former patients (I'm a retired OBGYN) to read your posts. Thank you for shining a light on this issue of longevity medicine and the false narrative of self-determination when it is really all about the luck of wealth. I hope your honest writing helps Attia fade away.
Thank you!
60 Minutes did a puff piece about this charlatan and CBS recently hired him (well, Bari Weiss did - that tracks). I hope CBS deeply regrets their decisions.
Re: Longevity
My grandmother died at 94. She had grown up poor, in a rural area. Her work "outside the home," included picking crops, working in a canning factory, and serving as domestic help, until she came to live with my parents, when I was on the way. At that point, her income ceased. (I'm old, and back then, not everyone had SS). She retained all of her marbles until the day she died. No weird treatments, no supplements, no yearly tests, not much of anything - except an occasional treat of a bottle of beer and "blind robins (salted smoked Atlantic herring)." Seems to me that those wealthy looking at longevity ignore genetics, in favor of the idea that a few dollars makes one a superior physical specimen.
My grandfather lived to be 98 and started smoking at 8! Genetics are wild!
I used to work at a veteran’s hospital where several men lived beyond 100. One of told me the secret to a long life was a daily cigar and “a wee brandy”. Haha! Personally I think it’s mostly genetics.
Attia gives the impression that he knows more than the establishment. He has a “team” that delves “deep into the research” which seems to greatly appeal to people and make them want to spend money. This feels like the same playbook as other medical and wellness influencers. Standards of care rooted in good research just isn’t sexy for marketing I guess 🤷🏼♀️ I didn’t realize CBS linked to Epstein previously-makes the recent connection between him and CBS extra curious now.
A number of patients tried to sell me on Attia and his book (before I retired) and it was obvious to me immediately that he was just the next in a long line of charlatan M.D.'s taking advantage of (wealthy) people's medical fears! So often these discussions took up valuable time in the exam rooms that would have been better spent discussing real medicine!
I had seen his name before, but I can't remember where or exactly what I read. However, the above did not come as a surprise, so it must have been something similar.
The number of well-to-do misogynists and predators who skate away from their offenses, unharmed, and often unknown, is frightening.