The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease

The story of the human body by Lieberman, explores the transition of our lifestyle, diets and body from an evolutionary perspective. We have undergone a “cultural evolution” that has outpaced our “biological evolution”, resulting multiple “Mismatch diseases”, suffering from ailments and other conditions that were rare amount our ancestors. Mismatch diseases occur due to: Overabundance and mismanagement of energy (Eating too much), Obesity, Diabetes, Under use (Not exercising enough), Osteoporosis and Lower back pain.

Lieberman suggests solutions we can learn something from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Many of these ideas are the core of the Paleo movement. He also states that culture created the environment for the decline in our health; we live longer but live with much more illnesses. So interventions for mismatch diseases he recommends, are public health policies that assist us in making better choices.