Episode 34 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Will Ozempic Make You Go Blind? The title comes from our In the News segment, where we cover an article from The Hill titled, Ozempic/Wegovy May be Linked to Rare Form of Blindness. If you’re taking this medication, this is probably a very scary headline. And, of course, it’s meant to be so that you click through. So, what is the science behind the headline? Tune in to find out!

We are very excited to bring you this week’s Patient Story segment because we are talking to Dave. You may know him as The Man on Mounjaro or from his podcast, On the Pen. I’ve talked about him, previously, on the podcast because he is a fountain of knowledge on all the weight loss medications in the pipeline. He is going to share his story with you and offer a 1, 3, and 5-year outlook on the future of obesity medications.

In our Nutrition segment, Zoe dives deeper into vegan health halo’s. Some stores are especially good at marketing and packaging products to make them appear healthy. But in reality, they are just as processed and sugary as their non-vegan counterparts.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, alcohol intake after a gastric bypass, tips for fixing your metabolism while recovering from Anorexia, and what to do if you miss a dose of Ozempic.

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Episode 33 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Do You Have the Obesity Gene? The title comes from our In the News segment, where we dive into an article by CNN titled, Researchers Have Found A ‘Clear Genetic Trigger for Obesity’ that Applies to Some People. According to the University of Exeter, a gene typically responsible for thyroid function and baseline energy expenditure named SMIM1, may be partially to blame for Obesity in those that carry two faulty copies of the gene. So, how does this affect the treatment of Obesity? Tune in to find out!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Kate who had rapid weight gain after a partial hysterectomy due to PCOS. She needed bariatric surgery to get the weight off, but her insurance wouldn’t cover it. So, she went to Mexico for the surgery and joined our nutrition program for her post-op care. She has lost 100 pounds since her surgery and 130 pounds off her highest weight!

In our Nutrition segment, Zoe offers tips on how to add more movement into your day if you work a desk job, without going to the gym or adding an exercise routine into your already hectic schedule.

Since the approval of GLP-1 use for the treatment of Obesity, one of the most frequently asked questions has been, “Why won’t my insurance company cover the medication?” It all comes down to the acronym, QALY. In our Economics of Obesity segment, I break down QALY’s and explain their purpose.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners’ questions including, whether or not a sleeve patient can have the LINX procedure, how to maximize protein without eating meat, and how to minimize hair loss after bariatric surgery.

Episode 32 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Why We Hate Keto. We cover a lot of material in this episode, including Pharmacy Benefit Managers, over-the-counter supplements for weight loss, Keto and the Lion diet, Glp-1’s, and avocado oil, just to name a few.

In our In the News segment, we dive into an article from The New York Times titled, The Opaque Industry Secretly Inflating Prices for Prescription Drugs. As the title suggests, there are behind-the-scene shenanigans going on that needlessly and greedily add to the cost of prescription drugs. It’s an intricate, and unfortunately, legal method of stealing money to the tune of billions of dollars a year. But there is something you can do to stop it. Tune in to find out what that is!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Laura who came to us from Phoenix. Laura gained weight later in life and struggled with the idea of surgery. It wasn’t until she retired and her plans to travel became more difficult, (due to the extra weight) that she really considered having bariatric surgery. After meeting with me she went ahead with a gastric bypass and lost 80 pounds in 10 months!

In our Nutrition segment we explain why we hate Keto. You might think that Keto is a relatively new diet but it’s actually over 150 years old and intended to help treat patients with epilepsy. And, while Keto may actually help you lose weight, it wreaks havoc on your cardiovascular system causing poorer health.

In our Economics of Obesity segment, we talk about over-the-counter weight loss supplements. We cover Chromium Picolinate, Berberine, Metformin, Inulin, Alli, and Hydroxycut. Do they actually work? We lay it all out for you!

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, when to start GLP-1’s after a sleeve, our thoughts on avocado oil, and what we think about the Lion diet. Tune in for a deep-dive into the science behind many famous and infamous weight loss practices.

Episode 31 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Obesity Discrimination is Alive and Well, Just Ask Chris. The title comes from our In the News segment where we talk about an article from The Maine Wire that examines a lawsuit filed against Cigna claiming that obesity is a disability and Cigna’s failure to cover GLP-1 medications constitutes discrimination based on disability.

In our Patient Story segment, we talk to Nikki. Though not a patient of ours, Nikki had a gastric bypass back when the procedure was done by opening up the stomach to operate. She also works for a great organization called Obesity Help. A lot has changed since her surgery and she is here to share her experience as well as talk about all the great things Obesity Help is doing for the bariatric community.

Reading the nutrition facts label can be confusing. This is not by accident. Big food companies have influenced the label design in order to confuse consumers into thinking foods are healthier than they actually are. So, in our Nutrition segment, Zoe offers some tips on how to navigate the nutrition facts label.

In our Economics of Obesity segment, we dive into the cost of obesity and whether or not it’s financially viable for insurance companies to cover expensive treatments like GLP-1 medications.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, what can be done to prevent gallstones after bariatric surgery, our thoughts on oats in almond milk, and whether or not taking GLP-1 medication before surgery increases postop weight loss.

Here is the information referred to in the Patient Story:
https://www.obesityhelp.com/events/tickets/ -Promo Code: POUNDOFCURE25 for $25 off through 7/7/24

https://www.obesityhelp.com/events/speakers/ -More coming

https://www.obesityhelp.com/events/hotel-accommodations-2/

https://www.facebook.com/events/s/bariatric-connect-2024-nationa/739412618351241/

https://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/2024-bariatric-connect-scholarship-tickets/

nikkih@obesityhelp.com

Episode 30 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, GLP-1 Supplement Scams.

In our In the News segment, we cover an article in Today titled, Poppi Prebiotic Soda Brand Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Gut Health Claims. Poppi is a brand of soda marketed as a prebiotic and this lawsuit is questioning the validity of the claim.

In our Patient Story segment, we talk to Graham who had a highest weight of 311 pounds. He opted for the gastric bypass and we included GLP-1 medications along the way. He is now comfortable sitting at 168 pounds. Not only did he embrace the medical treatments we offered but he also embraced strength training as another tool to help maintain that weight loss. His story is very poignant for anyone interested in sustainable weight loss.

In our Nutrition segment, we dive into another product review. Biocare is a supplement being marketed to GLP-1 users offering to, “Scientifically Help Reduce Side Effects, Preserve Lean Muscle Mass & Provide Essential Nutrition.” Does it work? Tune in to find out!

Anytime a new FAD diet emerges, the food, beverage, and service companies scramble to create products to fit the new trend. And, over the past year or so, we’ve seen this happen in the GLP-1 space. So, in our Economics of Obesity segment, we dive further into the growing market of GLP-1 supplements and services.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, our thoughts on Phentermine, when to start taking your vitamins post-op, and how to navigate the GLP-1 shortages.

Episode 29 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Wegovy for the Long Run. The title comes from our In the News segment where we discuss an article in US News titled, More Studies Support Wegovy's Long-Term Weight-Loss Benefits. This article details the outcomes of the Select trial which showed that long-term use of Wegovy provided continued weight loss and cardiovascular benefits.

In our Patient Story segment, we talk to Armetta - one of my most memorable patients. She ended up having surgery in Mexico because of an exclusion policy on her insurance plan. After a serious complication, she became one of my double black diamond cases, and her insurance company ended up spending 1.5 million dollars on her treatment because of the complication. It’s a fascinating story.

Before the invention of popular sports drinks, most people didn’t know what electrolytes were. Now it’s one of our most frequently asked questions. Do you really need to drink sports drinks to replenish your electrolytes? Zoe answers this question in our Nutrition segment.

In out Economics of Obesity segment, we talk about going to Mexico for bariatric surgery. Many people choose this option thinking that it’s less expensive. But when 95% of all insurance plans cover bariatric surgery coupled with the higher complications rates and lack of post-op care, is it really the best choice?

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, whether or not the Metabolic Reset Diet works for Vegans, the mechanics of the sleeve that contribute to GERD, and what strategies to employ to maintain your weight while on GLP-1 medications.

Episode 28 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, How a Gastric Bypass Could Ruin Your Life.

The title comes from our In the News segment we cover an article in Medscape titled, Alcohol to Blame: Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery. It should come as no surprise that alcohol consumption could lead to weight gain. What could be surprising is the 5x increased risk of alcoholism after a gastric bypass and 2x increased risk of alcoholism after a sleeve. Tune in to learn why!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Janet about her struggle to lose weight after surgical menopause. As a nurse she was conflicted about working in the healthcare industry because she was battling her own weight issues. She tried everything to lose weight on her own but nothing worked. Finally, she reached out to us for help.

In our Nutrition segment, Zoe is back from her honeymoon with some great tips on how to avoid weight gain while on vacation. It’s a common-sense approach that won’t rob you of your fun or enjoyment of food.

In our Economics of Obesity segment, we talk about how much money people spend on weight loss medications and the socioeconomic aspects of GLP-1 use. Would you be surprised to know that more than half of all GLP-1 users pay less than $50 per month?

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, our thoughts on green drinks, how to lose more weight after a permanent stall, and how to avoid losing too much weight after surgery.

Join us as we dive in on our most recent episode of the Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast titled, Ozempic, baby!

Episode 27 kicks off with our In the News segment where we discuss an article by CNN that discusses how GLP-1’s are increasing fertility. This comes as no surprise considering we saw the same results after weight loss surgery. So why do GLP-1’s and weight loss surgery cause increased fertility? Tune in to find out!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Lacey who came to us for help after she regained weight approximately 7-8 years post gastric sleeve. We got her on a GLP-1 medication and she has since lost all of her regain and is back to her postop weight. She is now considering creative dosing strategies for weening off the meds and we offer advice on how to do this without regaining weight.

In our Nutrition segment, Deidre offers advice on how to eat at restaurants and enjoy your meal without destroying your weight loss progress. There are 2 different approaches and frequency is key.

Finally, we answer our listener’s questions including, whether or not Trulicity damages the Vagus nerve, will a revision cause additional weight loss, and our thoughts on the product label statement "Discontinue Ozempic in women at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy".