GLP-1s and bariatric surgery are powerful medical tools, and the real risk is starting them without understanding what long-term weight maintenance actually requires.

This conversation pulls obesity treatment out of the culture wars and back into medicine. Dr. Betsy Dovec, one of the most experienced bariatric surgeons in the country,speaks plainly about what long-term care actually demands, whether someone chooses bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medications, or a combination of both. The question beneath it all is simple and uncomfortable: are you looking for a short-term result, or are you prepared for a long-term strategy?

There is honesty here about weight regain, about the reality that stopping GLP-1 medications often leads to reversal, and about why a plan for maintenance matters more than the initial drop on the scale. The discussion touches on Microdosing GLP-1, the rise of GLP-1 oral medication, and how access and expectations shape outcomes. It also moves into GLP-1 for menopause and perimenopause, acknowledging how hormones change the metabolic equation for women and why GLP-1 inflammation benefits may explain why some feel better beyond weight loss alone.

This episode challenges the shame narrative. Obesity is treated as a chronic metabolic condition influenced by biology, environment, and hormones. The deeper takeaway is not which tool to choose, but whether you are approaching your health with clarity about what sustainable care truly involves.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Bariatric Surgery Explained: What It Really Is

09:11 Long-Term Weight Loss Success and Maintenance Strategies

11:57 GLP-1 Medications, Ozempic, and Weight Regain Reality

18:04 Hormones, Perimenopause, and GLP-1 for Women

28:00 Visceral Fat, Fatty Liver, and Metabolic Risk

37:01 Modern Bariatric Surgery and Recovery Timeline

Connect with Dr. Betsy Dovec:

Follow Dr. Dovec's Instagram

Visit BodyByBariatrics Website

Follow BodyByBariatrics TikTok

⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

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