So I’ve been wondering lately, what does Barbell Medicine look like, say, 10 years from now, and does Barbell Medicine have the intention of or willingness toward expanding its scope to broader issues relating to socioeconomical/sociopolitical domains?
The reason I wonder this is, it seems to me as well as influencers much more intelligent than me like Alan Flanagan say, that at the end of the day, what is holding much of society back from healthier lifestyles isn’t an underdeveloped science of nutrition/exercise as much as it is a lack of appropriate and scientifically educated policy, and therefore the way in which we’re going to stand a chance of making the greatest possible impact on society and the world at large is by dipping our toes in those waters, even if that inevitably risks losing loyal followers who have differing, but strongly held opinions about these matters.
This would obviously involve the expansion of Barbell Medicine to include experts who have authority in policy-making, economics, and other social sciences. It sounds exciting…but also ambitious.
I think I’m going to table the discussion on where we’re going to be 10 years from now, as I think that’s pretty far off considering the rapid change in how people are consuming information, social values, etc.
That said, our core mission is to provide high quality resources in the exercise and medical fields for both professionals and the general public.
To the extent our content, recommendations, and/or materials may help policy-makers do their job…that’s probably as far as we shouldgo here. In other words, I view our role as being either honest brokers of information or scientific arbiters depending on context. I do not see us hiring politicians or other law makers, as that would be a notable conflict of interest. Hiring other professionals to help better package our message however, now that’s something we can get behind.
To the extent we can use our influence for good, we will do that to the best of our ability
Have you noticed any trends in the way medical professionals are now viewing resistance training - particularly lifting heavy weights, as opposed to stuff like high rep physique based training?
Do you think more doctors are now viewing heavy barbell training as beneficial, as opposed to something that may/will result in injury? I know I had a knee problem years ago, went to the doctor who told me to stop doing squats!
