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 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 these breakthroughs. This isn’t hype—it’s metabolic medicine, health-system reality, and grounded hope.
Key Questions Answered
- Why is the WHO’s new guidance on GLP-1s for obesity such a historic turning point?
- What does it mean to treat obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease—not a willpower problem?
- Why do GLP-1s usually need to be taken long term, and how is that similar to blood pressure or cholesterol meds?
- How should GLP-1s be paired with metabolic care—fueling, sleep, movement, and real clinical oversight?
- What did the “stone cold negative” Alzheimer’s trials show—and why are addiction trials still promising?
- How could India’s launch of Ozempic and future generics impact global pricing and access?
- What new GLP-1 and metabolic drugs are on the horizon (like orforglipron, higher-dose oral semaglutide, and GLP-1/amylin combos)?
Key Takeaways
- WHO is catching up to the science. Obesity is affirmed as a chronic, relapsing disease that deserves pharmacologic treatment—not “eat less, move more” lectures or moral judgment.
- Long-term meds are the rule, not the exception. Stopping GLP-1s usually leads to weight and risk factors returning, just like stopping blood-pressure meds. That’s physiology, not failure.
- Behavior ≠ blame. WHO calls for pairing GLP-1s with “behavioral” care—but Dr. Cooper reframes this around fueling, sleep, and supported habits, not deprivation or diet culture.
- Access is the battleground. Even as WHO elevates GLP-1s, programs like California’s Medi-Cal are cutting coverage for obesity, a move Dr. Cooper calls penny-wise and pound-foolish given the downstream costs of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Brain outcomes are nuanced. Large oral semaglutide trials failed to slow Alzheimer’s, but GLP-1s (and other obesity meds) still show promise for addiction by modulating reward pathways and the “internal drug factory” (POMC).
- Global markets are shifting. India’s huge population, looming Ozempic patent expirations, and emerging generics could eventually drive prices down—especially as more manufacturers compete.
- New meds may expand options. Orforglipron (a small-molecule oral GLP-1), higher-dose oral semaglutide, and a weekly GLP-1/amylin combo could bring more flexible, powerful, and potentially more affordable tools.
Dr. Cooper’s Actionable Tips
- Think of obesity treatment like any chronic disease: long-term, medical, and individualized—not a short-term “diet.”
- If you’re using a GLP-1, pair it with real metabolic care: consistent fueling (not under-eating), good sleep, and appropriately fueled exercise.
- Be cautious with “cheap” or unsanctioned online GLP-1 options—especially if you’re being squeezed out of coverage. Safety and oversight matter.
- Remember there are other evidence-based obesity meds beyond GLP-1s; if you can’t tolerate or access one class, ask your clinician about alternatives.
Notable Quote
“Your metabolism is a lifelong issue. It’s not a headache.”
— Andrea Taylor
Links & Resources
- Podcast Home: Fat Science Podcast Website – https://fatsciencepodcast.com/
- Cooper Center for Metabolism & Fat Science Episodes: https://coopermetabolic.com/podcast/
- Resources and education from Dr. Cooper: https://coopermetabolic.com/resources/
- Submit a Show Question: questions@fatsciencepodcast.com
- Dr. Cooper direct show email: dr.c@fatsciencepodcast.com
*Fat Science is your source for breaking diet myths and advancing the science of true metabolic health. No diets, no agendas—just science that makes you feel better.