When I first saw the CDC’s MMWR latest report on obesity medication prescribing for adolescents, my initial reaction was probably the same as yours: less than 1 percent of teens with obesity got these medications in 2023? That seems pretty dismal.
But then I took a step back and looked at what this data is telling us. And honestly? We’re missing the real story here.
We’re witnessing something historic.
Think about where …
I would never have thought I would be the one writing this piece.
I am a board-certified pediatrician and internist with a background in nutrition, well-versed in integrative medicine. Our family eats its fair share of kale, blueberries, and salmon. We hardly ever have a significant supply of junk food in the house. Fast food is a rarity, and she never even tasted juice in toddlerhood. And still, my child’s BMI …
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the #1 killer of Americans, both men and women.
Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, but beyond these are independent risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease.
Unlike hypertension, which has been called the “silent killer” as its presence is too often unknown to people who have high blood pressure, Americans are rarely unaware …
You see it before the final whistle blows. A boy—ten, or maybe nine—walks off the mat like he’s carrying bricks on his back. His face is red, his eyes damp. Waiting for him is his father, arms folded like a verdict. “You lost to that kid? You were up by two.” The boy opens his mouth, but nothing he says will be enough. The response is swift: a shake of …
WeightWatchers (WW) recently completed a broader financial reorganization, realigning leadership with a sharper focus on clinical innovation and women’s health, including menopause support. The reorganization includes appointing a chief medical officer to lead a more integrated, medically informed approach.
WW’s reorganization bankruptcy was driven by mounting debt and pressure from newer weight-loss therapy products, namely GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. It was also impacted by a shifting landscape where traditional …
Despite decades of public health messaging urging children to “eat less and move more,” rates of pediatric obesity continue to rise globally. In the U.S. alone, nearly 1 in 5 children and adolescents aged 2–19 years have obesity, with higher rates among those from low-income or minority backgrounds. While caloric balance is a basic principle of weight regulation, the oversimplification of obesity into a matter of willpower neglects the …
We often speak of weight as a matter of simple math—calories in, calories out. But the body doesn’t work like an equation when it’s grieving or under chronic stress. It behaves more like a survivor, clinging tightly to resources in the face of perceived danger. And in that physiological equation, cortisol—our primary stress hormone—plays a central role.
The cortisol connection
Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress through …
When so many children and adults struggle with obesity, it’s easy to see why weight loss is often celebrated. Unfortunately, health care professionals sometimes apply those same social narratives to clinical decision-making, and the consequences can be dangerous.
I’ve developed two distinct clinical niches: metabolic dysfunction and tuberculosis. A colleague once asked me to review the chart of a patient with a history of obesity who had been admitted to an …
A woman sat nervously in front of me, eyes wide, voice low. “I saw this video on TikTok,” she said. “Now I’m not sure I want to try it.” “It” was semaglutide—one of the most transformative medications we’ve seen for weight loss and metabolic health in years. But her fear wasn’t uncommon. Like many patients I see, she came in hopeful, but hesitant—torn between her desire to get healthy and …
For years, weight loss has been sold as a simple math problem: eat less, move more, and the pounds will melt away. But if that were true, we wouldn’t have an obesity epidemic affecting over 40 percent of adults in the U.S.
Now, a new class of medications—GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)—are changing the game. People who have struggled with their weight for …
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In this episode, we dive into the complexities of obesity with gastroenterologist Pooja Singhal. Together, we explore the media’s portrayal of new obesity medications, the harmful misconceptions surrounding obesity, and the vital need …
At the November 2022 Obesity Week in San Diego, it was clear something big was happening. A late-breaking session released results of the STEP TEENS phase IIIa trial, showing 16 percent weight loss in adolescents with obesity treated with once-weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) for 68 weeks. The side effects were manageable and similar to those experienced in adults: nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
A month later, semaglutide received FDA approval for weight management …
According to some academics, in 2019, a ban on junk food advertising across London’s entire public transport network—foods and drinks high in fat and salt and ads for foods–resulted in the prevention of 100,000 obesity cases. Yet the U.S. love affair with the new semaglutide-based weight loss drugs like Ozempic gives junk food advertising and availability a huge pass.
Drug makers and Wall Street are pleased that instead of changing …
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Join us for a conversation with Zachary Fellows, a rheumatologist who spent nearly four years in private practice navigating the complex intersection of obesity and rheumatic diseases. Zachary shares his journey from giving …
Have you ever heard of a drug called Ozempic? Just kidding. As we all know, this medicine and numerous related drugs are the rage. It is classified as a GLP-1 drug. The percentage of my patients who are taking these drugs is steadily rising. Of course, initially, Ozempic’s purpose was in diabetic management. Once it was discovered that weight loss was a “side-effect,” a new therapeutic mission was discovered. Indeed, …
On my outpatient clinical rotations last year, I saw ample management of heart disease and smoking cessation counseling. I also saw the annual physicals and checkups. But what surprised me was how many patients were on medications that were just now becoming more mainstream. I’m sure you’ve heard of one in particular—Ozempic. But it wasn’t just Ozempic. There was also Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications, in the family of semaglutides, …
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In this episode, we sit down with Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine and family physician, to delve into the pervasive stigma and shame associated with obesity and perimenopause. Caissa shares her personal experiences …
Imagine snuggling up in bed and drifting off into dreamland after a long day. Did you know that those precious hours of sleep could be more than just time for rest? Let’s explore the interesting connection between sleep and weight loss and why getting quality sleep might just be the added push you need to shed that extra weight.
Sleep is not just about closing your eyes and calling it a …
Recently, media outlets and social media influencers have been on fire with stories about new “miracle” obesity drugs that promise a quick fix for people wanting to lose weight. Lost in this chatter are the life stories of millions of Americans struggling with obesity and its physical and emotional effects. A vital question is being ignored: how can we continue to allow money to determine access to treatment when many …
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