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I recently tuned into a podcast with Jillian Michaels—the trainer from The Biggest Loser (possibly one of the most problematic shows to ever grace TV). I listened as she doubled down on the same old narrative: weight loss is all about motivation, eating less, and moving more. It was frustrating, especially because two respected physicians in the obesity medicine community were trying to bring a more evidence-based approach to the conversation, but it was falling on deaf ears.

As research continues to reveal, chronic obesity is a complex condition that differs significantly from simple weight management. It’s clear that it’s time to move beyond these outdated beliefs and focus on the science shaping our understanding of obesity today. In this episode, we'll explore the latest scientific research on obesity, including how metabolic and hormonal responses to weight loss differ for those with chronic obesity, as well as the benefits of GLP-1s and GIPs that go far beyond weight loss alone.


References

Hinte, L.C., Castellano-Castillo, D., Ghosh, A. et al. Adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity after weight loss. Nature (2024).


Audio Stamps

02:38 - Dr. Rentea critiques Jillian Michaels’ outdated stance on obesity as a chronic condition, and emphasizes the importance of evolving with current science in understanding obesity and its treatments.

07:56 - Dr. Rentea discusses the growing body of evidence showing that GLP-1 medications offer numerous health benefits beyond weight loss, including improvements in various metabolic and cardiovascular conditions.

10:49 - We learn how GLP-1 medications help protect the cardiac system by improving endothelial function, reducing blood pressure, and lowering inflammation and cholesterol.

13:20 - It’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the wide-ranging health improvements these medications offer beyond just weight loss.


Quotes

“I believe radically different right now than what I did five, six years ago. Every single year I'm learning new things.”

“The biggest question I always get asked from people is, ‘When I lose the weight, am I good? Can I then just go on with my life?’ and I always say, ‘It's a chronic medical condition, meaning it's there for life. We can manage it, we don't have a cure.’”

“It's been an explosion recently of updates from long term trials and new trials that are showing ever increasing benefits of GLP-1s and GIPs.”

“It's never been about shapeshifting. It's never been about what size you are. It's really always about health. And this is a hard shift because most people are just obsessed with what the scale number is.”

Join the September 30/30 round. 

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more. 

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