Episode #391: VO2 Max vs. Cardiorespiratory Fitness, GLP-1 Costs, and the 10,000-Step Myth | Direct Line March 2026 (Free)

In this free preview of the March 2026 Direct Line AMA. Drs. Feigenbaum and Baraki cover: VO2 max versus cardiorespiratory fitness for longevity (are Peter Attia’s targets evidence-based? — with Goodhart’s Law and the JAMA evidence), what GLP-1 medications actually cost now via manufacturer programs ($149–449/month), and whether 7,000–10,000 daily steps actually meet the bar for cardiovascular training.
Full episode for Barbell Medicine Plus subscribers at https://barbellmedicine.supercast.com/
Timestamps:
0:00 — Introduction
3:26 — VO2 Max vs. Cardiorespiratory Fitness for Longevity
14:11 — GLP-1 Costs: What you should actually be paying now
21:43 — Is Walking Enough for Cardiovascular Health?
Next Steps:
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Explore our full library of articles on health and performance: barbellmedicine.com/resources
To consult with Drs. Baraki or Feigenbaum email us at [email protected]
Resources:
JAMA Network Open — Cardiorespiratory Fitness & Long-term Mortality (Mandsager et al.) — Exercise capacity (METs) and longevity — the foundational CRF/mortality study cited in the episode https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2707428
JAMA — Blair et al. — Physical fitness and all-cause mortality: a prospective study of healthy men and women https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/379243
Barbell Medicine Vital Five — Multi-modal CRF benchmarks and longevity targets https://www.barbellmedicine.com/vital-5-action-plan/
Lilly Direct — Zepbound (tirzepatide) — Manufacturer direct program ($299–449/month) https://www.lillydirect.com/zepbound
NovoCare — Wegovy (semaglutide) — Manufacturer savings program ($149–349/month) https://www.novocare.com/patient/medicines/wegovy.html
Orforglipron — Eli Lilly oral GLP-1 — What to know about orforglipron (small-molecule oral GLP-1 agonist, pending FDA approval) https://www.lilly.com/news/stories/what-to-know-about-orforglipron
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