We’ve been led to believe weight is a simple equation: energy in versus energy out, which implies it’s all in our control. We’re in charge. We just need the right diet, exercise, and willpower. And while nutrition and physical activity matter a lot, and some maintain their weight through those means, others feel like their bodies have a mind of their own, which is actually true, as this week’s guest, obesity medicine scientist, educator, and policy maker Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford explains. That’s because the central nervous system, which is governed by the brain, ultimately regulates weight. We dive deep into all the factors that influence how much fat we store, where menopause comes in, and what having a healthy weight really means. It’s all a whole lot more complicated than we’ve been led to believe.

Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FTOS is an obesity medicine physician scientist, educator, and policy maker at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She is a national and international sought-after expert in obesity medicine who bridges the intersection of medicine, public health, policy, and disparities. In 2022, The National Academy of Medicine named her a Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence. You can learn more about her and her work at harvard.edu/faculty-staff/fatima-cody-stanford

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