Why the current medical system prioritizes pharmaceutical interventions over behavioral changes

This clip is from episode # 317 ‒ Reforming medicine: uncovering blind spots, challenging the norm, and embracing innovation with Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H.

In the full episode, we discuss:

- The issue of groupthink and cognitive dissonance in science and medicine
- How a non-operative treatment for appendicitis sheds light on cognitive dissonance
- How cognitive dissonance and effort justification shape beliefs and actions
- How misguided peanut allergy recommendations created an epidemic
- The enduring impact of misinformation and fear-based messaging around hormone replacement therapy allegedly causing breast cancer
- The dangers of extreme skepticism and blind faith in science, and the importance of understanding uncertainty and probability
- The overuse of antibiotics and the rise of antibiotic resistant infections and poor gut health
- The potential correlations between early antibiotic use and chronic diseases
- The historical and evolving trends in childbirth and C-section rates
- Rethinking ovarian cancer: recent data challenging decades of medical practice and leading to new preventive measures
- Navigating uncertainty as a physician
- The urgent need for reform in medical education
- The major barriers to innovative medical research
- The dogmatic culture of academic medicine: why humility and challenging established norms are key for progress
- The major successes and ongoing challenges of modern medicine
- More

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About:

The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

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[Ayin]

As a practicing physician, I disagree with some of this. First, doctors do try to educate their patients how to eat well and exercise. In addition, most healthcare systems hire dietitians and nutritionists to whom we refer patients for further education. Most patients don't implement the lifestyle changes. So some docs stop advising and just give the pharmaceutical because it is easier for them to take the pill than to lose the weight. It's also quickly effective. Many patients want the pill! The story becomes, "You're pushing all these meds on me. Okay... then stop the fast food, exercise three to five days a week for an hour, go to therapy, or meditate. Very few people will keep it up for any length of time--and this is for many reasons. But they'll take the ozempic. The public has to share the responsibility for the state of their health.

[mackenzieusher]

To me, this is why the new model of having holistic care is so important. Your family doctor should work alongside your other specialists. That way, they can collaborate by sharing information and attacking problems by more than one angle. We are seeing more of that in Canada (and elsewhere I'm sure), and it is very effective.

[AP-wddv]

One of the reasons is that it's easy to give a patient a patient medication. To convince them to implement lifestyle changes is not easy. Ypu could even say it is unsafe to trust a patient keep up lifestyle modification. Also medical students are ALWAYS reminded to advise patients on lifestyle changes, although I agree that there is no emphasis placed on research in the field.

[nancyv]

Sad that money is the only consideration above people’s well being and healthy lifestyles

[Largo]

I love Peter Attia. He's the only male doctor I know who also talk about women's health and hormones etc.

[KRN]

Ain't worth funding it if we can't patent it. God Bless America!

[beesplaining]

Some of the downsides of free market capitalism.

[paulwitt]

I often hear that doctors never learned about exercise and nutrition. I understand that was probably the case when Peter went to medical school, but it seems like that paradigm has changed. I feel like most doctors would be insulted if you suggested they don’t understand the importance of lifestyle changes. I think the issue is that people simply don’t adhere to lifestyle changes for a variety of reasons. So left with no other choices, doctors need to prescribe medications.

[JohnKerbaugh]

Hear me out. Imagine if insurance companies hired people to put together plans that would save them money. I could see them seeking federal dollars for research with the right incentives & protections.

[charlottebuck]

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food....I eat a Carnivore diet ☺️

[EllenPitts]

There is absolutely money in healthy lifestyles. Gyms, healthy food, supplements etc are billion + dollar industries

[sandrasweeney]

Peter Attia has super rich motivated clients not ordinary patients.

[ji]

So you want to come to me, the doctor.. you want to pay me.. to teach you the importance of good sleep, exercise and eating right???
When did teaching common sense become part of my job title?
A doctor treats the sick. That’s what we do.
Those who care enough about their health will put in the work. Everyone knows how to use the internet in America.