A Science-Based Guide to Physical Activity Sustainability w/Dr. Michelle Segar & Dr. Rak Jotwani
Wed Aug 13 2025
What if everything we thought we knew about motivating people to exercise was wrong? In this eye-opening episode, we explore the counterintuitive science of sustainable physical activity with behavioral scientist Dr. Michelle Segar and lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Rakesh Jatwani.
Here's a shocking revelation: telling patients to exercise "for their health" might actually be sabotaging their long-term motivation. Dr. Segar shares research showing that health-focused exercise messaging can be as demotivating as weight-loss goals, while Dr. Jatwani candidly admits, "I was doing harm in the way I was talking about exercise" before discovering these evidence-based approaches.
Both experts take us behind the scenes of their upcoming workshop at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference, where they'll present a simple, practical framework for healthcare providers to transform how they discuss physical activity with patients. This framework, grounded in behavioral science yet accessible enough to deploy in time-limited clinical settings, promises to bridge the gap between good intentions and sustainable habits.
Ready to transform how you think about physical activity motivation? Listen now, and discover why movement that enhances daily quality of life creates more lasting change than exercise prescribed solely for health benefits.
Show Notes Page: https://www.wellnessparadoxpod.com/podcast/episode/146
Our Guests: Dr. Michelle Segar, PhD & Dr. Rak Jotwani, MD
Dr. Michelle Segar is an award-winning, NIH-funded researcher at the University of Michigan with thirty years studying how to help people adopt physical activity and other lifestyle behaviors in ways that can be sustained within the unpredictability of the real world. Since 1994, her scientifically supported methodologies have been transforming peoples’ mindsets about lifestyle behaviors in ways that cultivate the daily decision-making that underlies behavioral sustainability.
Dr. Rakesh (Rak, pronounced "rock") Jotwani is a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician and the founder of RAK Your Life, a virtual practice dedicated to empowering individuals to make sustainable, evidence-based lifestyle changes. Dr. Jotwani’s career has spanned hospital medicine, primary care, and leadership roles, including serving as the Director of Lifestyle Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco.
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What if everything we thought we knew about motivating people to exercise was wrong? In this eye-opening episode, we explore the counterintuitive science of sustainable physical activity with behavioral scientist Dr. Michelle Segar and lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Rakesh Jatwani. Here's a shocking revelation: telling patients to exercise "for their health" might actually be sabotaging their long-term motivation. Dr. Segar shares research showing that health-focused exercise messaging can be as demotivating as weight-loss goals, while Dr. Jatwani candidly admits, "I was doing harm in the way I was talking about exercise" before discovering these evidence-based approaches. Both experts take us behind the scenes of their upcoming workshop at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference, where they'll present a simple, practical framework for healthcare providers to transform how they discuss physical activity with patients. This framework, grounded in behavioral science yet accessible enough to deploy in time-limited clinical settings, promises to bridge the gap between good intentions and sustainable habits. Ready to transform how you think about physical activity motivation? Listen now, and discover why movement that enhances daily quality of life creates more lasting change than exercise prescribed solely for health benefits. Show Notes Page: https://www.wellnessparadoxpod.com/podcast/episode/146 Our Guests: Dr. Michelle Segar, PhD & Dr. Rak Jotwani, MD Dr. Michelle Segar is an award-winning, NIH-funded researcher at the University of Michigan with thirty years studying how to help people adopt physical activity and other lifestyle behaviors in ways that can be sustained within the unpredictability of the real world. Since 1994, her scientifically supported methodologies have been transforming peoples’ mindsets about lifestyle behaviors in ways that cultivate the daily decision-making that underlies behavioral sustainability. Dr. Rakesh (Rak, pronounced "rock") Jotwani is a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician and the founder of RAK Your Life, a virtual practice dedicated to empowering individuals to make sustainable, evidence-based lifestyle changes. Dr. Jotwani’s career has spanned hospital medicine, primary care, and leadership roles, including serving as the Director of Lifestyle Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. Follow us on social at the links below: https://www.facebook.com/wellnessparadox https://www.instagram.com/wellnessparadox/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellness-paradox-podcast https://twitter.com/WellnessParadox