Hunter-gatherers are not physically impressive (not 'buff, built, and bulked'). They have enough muscle to do what they need but no more. Muscle is expensive tissue (1/3 of body mass, 1/5+ of calorie expenditure at rest). Natural selection doesn't favor excess muscle in food-insecure contexts. Modern 'Liver King' physiques are artifacts of gym access and protein shakes, not ancestral reality.
factualpending
Speaker
Daniel LiebermanEvidence Quote
“People are reasonably strong, but they're not super strong. And they're not they're not buff and built and bulked... They've got enough muscle to do what they need to do, but no more... Muscle is really expensive, right?... about a third of our body is muscle, and it's using up about about you know, a fifth or more of the calories”
Source
Harvard Professor: REVEALING The 7 Big LIES About Exercise, Sleep, Running, Cancer & Sugar!!!— The Diary Of A CEOCreated: 8/12/2026, 6:22:05 PM
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