Childhood Obesity, Eating Disorders & GLP-1s: Why It’s Not Your Fault
Release Date: 12/29/2025
Why GLP-1 Medications Work Even When the Scale Doesn't Move
Fat Science
What if the scale isn't moving, but your health is dramatically improving?
If you've ever felt discouraged because the number on the scale won't budge—even on a GLP-1 medication—this episode will change how you think about these drugs. Dr. Cooper breaks down the research showing that the biggest benefits have nothing to do with weight loss. It's all about metabolic health.
This Week on Fat Science
Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor expl
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Mailbag: Food Tracking, Mechanical Eating Troubleshooting, COVID & Metabolism, and Metformin + GLP-1 Synergy
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor answer listener mailbag questions from California, the UK, France, Washington, Wyoming, and beyond.
The team breaks down why Dr. Cooper does not recommend calorie tracking (and when limited tracking can make sense), how to build confidence in eating without data, and why “mechanical eating” sometimes needs medical customization—especially for people with slow gut transit or gastroparesis-like symptoms. info_outline
Mailbag: GLP-1 Weight Regain, Meals vs Snacks, and Why Some People Don’t Respond
Fat Science
his week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor answer listener mailbag questions that get to the heart of metabolic health. The team explains the real difference between meals and snacks, discusses whether GLP-1 medications can be appropriate for children in complex cases, explores why some people appear to be “non-responders” to Wegovy, and breaks down why alarming headlines about rapid weight regain miss the bigger metabolic picture. They also explain how to set
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What the Headlines Get Wrong About GLP-1 Drugs and Metabolism
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor break down two GLP-1 studies that challenge a major media myth: GLP-1 medications don’t drive weight loss just because people eat less. Instead, drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide create direct metabolic shifts—including increased fat oxidation and improved fuel partitioning—regardless of appetite.
The team also explores mechanical eating, the psychological impact of “diet food,” and Andrea’s 13-yea
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GLP-1 Mailbag: Weight Regain, Leptin Resistance, Hypoglycemia & Why Calories Aren’t the Problem
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor tackle a wide-ranging mailbag episode with listener questions from the U.S., UK, and Europe. Topics include unexpected weight regain on GLP-1s, post-meal sleepiness and hypoglycemia, metabolic dysfunction despite normal labs, GLP-1 dosing strategies, and why these medications are about metabolism, not appetite suppression.
Key Questions Answered
- Why can weight regain happen on info_outline
Childhood Obesity, Eating Disorders & GLP-1s: Why It’s Not Your Fault
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor talk with pediatric eating disorder specialist Dr. Julie O’Toole (Kartini Clinic) and pediatric obesity expert Dr. Evan Nadler about what childhood obesity really is: a biologic, metabolic disease—not a willpower problem and not a failure of parenting.
They explore how excess weight, constant hunger, and disordered eating in kids are often signs of underlying metabolic dysfunction and genetics—and why the old
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I’m Working Out—So Why Am I Getting Fatter?
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor talk with exercise physiologist Russell Cunningham and patient Becca Wert about a counterintuitive reality: for some people, exercise can actually slow metabolism, stall weight loss, and trigger weight gain—especially when the brain senses a threat to energy availability.
Dr. Cooper explains how overtraining, under-fueling, and even thinking about workouts can activate famine signals in the brain and shut down
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The Latest GLP-1 News
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor unpack the biggest GLP-1 headlines from around the world—from the World Health Organization’s first-ever GLP-1 obesity guidelines to access battles, brain research, and the coming wave of generics and new meds.
Dr. Cooper explains what the WHO’s move really means for patients, why long-term treatment matters, and how policy decisions in places like California and India could reshape who actually benefits from
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Listener Mailbag: Set Point Theory, Trauma & Metabolism, and Why 1200 Calories Can Still Lead to Weight Gain
Fat Science
This week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor answer listener questions about BMI cutoffs, weight cycling, metabolic adaptation, trauma, GLP-1 differences, and why some people gain weight on ultra-low calories. Dr. Cooper explains what’s really happening inside the metabolic system and why individualized treatment—not dieting—creates sustainable change.
Key Questions Answered
- If my BMI doesn’t “qualify” for GLP-1s, is Na info_outline
A Patient’s Guide to Taking Back Your Health
Fat Science
Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor talk with Maria from Buffalo, a longtime listener who shares her lifelong journey with obesity, psoriatic arthritis, and binge eating—and how finally understanding the science of metabolism gave her hope. Maria describes early childhood weight gain, joint damage, and years of restrictive dieting and food shame, then explains how GLP‑1 therapy (Zepbound) plus mechanical eating helped her lose about 50 pounds while eating more food, more often, and with
info_outlineThis week on Fat Science, Dr. Emily Cooper, Mark Wright, and Andrea Taylor talk with pediatric eating disorder specialist Dr. Julie O’Toole (Kartini Clinic) and pediatric obesity expert Dr. Evan Nadler about what childhood obesity really is: a biologic, metabolic disease—not a willpower problem and not a failure of parenting.
They explore how excess weight, constant hunger, and disordered eating in kids are often signs of underlying metabolic dysfunction and genetics—and why the old “eat less, move more” advice can do real harm, especially when children are shamed or restricted in the name of “health.”
Key Questions Answered
- Why is childhood obesity a metabolic disease, not a behavior problem?
- How are obesity and eating disorders deeply connected instead of opposite extremes?
- What role do GLP-1 medications play in children—and how do we protect against under-fueling?
- When should parents suspect genetic drivers like hyperphagia or MC4 mutations?
- How can medical treatment for obesity actually reduce disordered eating behaviors?
- When does excess weight become a medical issue requiring metabolic evaluation—not another diet?
Key Takeaways
- Weight is a symptom. Childhood obesity is often a sign of metabolic dysfunction, not overeating.
- Obesity & eating disorders overlap. Restriction can trigger disordered eating; disordered eating can worsen obesity.
- “Eat less, move more” harms. Shame-based approaches delay treatment and increase risk of eating disorders.
- GLP-1s work metabolically, not just through appetite suppression. Kids still need consistent fueling.
- Genetics matter. Single-gene differences can drive severe childhood hunger & rapid weight gain.
- Not treating is harm. Avoiding obesity care violates first, do no harm.
Dr. Cooper’s Actionable Tips
- If your child is gaining weight or constantly hungry, request metabolic labs (insulin, glucose, lipids, liver, hormones).
- If the doctor only says “eat less, move more,” ask: “How are we evaluating metabolism and genetics?”
- On GLP-1s? Monitor for under-fueling (skipped meals, low energy, food anxiety) and intervene promptly.
Notable Quote
“Not treating childhood obesity is doing harm. It’s a disease, not a lifestyle choice.” — Dr. Evan Nadler
Links & Resources
- Podcast Home: Fat Science Website
- Episodes & Show Archive: Cooper Center Podcast Page
- Education & Metabolic Resources: coopermetabolic.com/resources
- Submit a Show Question: questions@fatsciencepodcast.com
- Email Dr. Cooper Directly: dr.c@fatsciencepodcast.com
Connect with Our Guests
Dr. Evan P. Nadler, MD, MBA – Founder, ProCare Consultants & ProCare TeleHealth
Website: obesityexplained.com
YouTube Channel: Obesity Explained
Dr. Julie K. O’Toole, M.D., M.P.H. – Chief Medical Officer & Founder, Kartini Clinic
Website: kartiniclinic.com
Books: amazon.com/author/julieotoole
*Fat Science breaks diet myths and advances the science of real metabolic health. No diets. No agendas. Just science that makes you feel better. This episode is informational only and not medical advice.