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_outlineThe 100th episode of Fat Science brings together Dr. Emily Cooper, Andrea Taylor, and Mark Wright for a live mailbag celebration with listeners worldwide. Hear how the show began, reflect on lessons learned, and get answers to the questions people wish their doctors would address—especially about metabolism, obesity, diabetes, GLP-1 medications, and more.
Dr. Cooper shares the big-picture science behind “why we get fat,” the true drivers of metabolic dysfunction, and the evolution of her pioneering clinical practice. Andrea and Mark reveal the patient’s perspective—an honest look at what happens when the latest science meets real lives. Plus, practitioners and patients weigh in on the shifting cultural tide: it’s not a diet problem, it’s a metabolic problem.
Key Takeaways:
- GLP-1 medications do not appear to harm future fertility or cause birth defect risks; improved metabolism may even help down the road.
- Leptin resistance/suppression: what labs really mean, why mechanical eating matters, and how ghrelin and other signals clarify the picture.
- “Diet Drug” stigma is outdated; GLP-1 medications target dysfunction, not willpower.
- Compounded GLP-1 solutions can be risky. Dr. Cooper explains supply chain, testing, and safer cost-saving alternatives like Lilly Direct, NovoCare, and Canadian Kwik pens.
- Autoimmune diseases (like celiac) may interfere with signals, but GLP-1s—especially bioidentical ones—are still options with careful monitoring.
- “Selfish Brain” explained: labs to request, what cerebral insulin suppression looks like, and why fueling and sleep are core solutions.
- Hashimoto’s: often distinct from metabolic dysfunction; both need tailored management and mechanical fueling.
- Heavy lifting & nutrition: protein needs often overstated—1.0–1.3g/kg ideal; pre-bed protein useful; DEXA scans help track muscle mass.
- Menopause & metabolism: estrogen/leptin loss, why patch plus micronized progesterone is often safest, and how each choice impacts metabolic health.
- Navigating insurance complexities, tariffs, and lifetime maxes—when and how to explore creative access.
- Metabolic changes tied to cycles, pregnancy, birth control: which progestins are weight-neutral, what to ask, and which labs to run if hitting plateaus.
- GLP-1s often improve blood pressure; dizziness may mean time to reduce meds, not the GLP-1.
Personal Stories & Practical Advice:Andrea and Mark share a decade-plus of metabolic journeys—their dramatic health wins and the ongoing battle for self-compassion and body image. Listeners celebrate victories: reversing fatty liver, thriving after cancer, and breaking free from diet cycles.
“No diets. No agendas. Just science that makes you feel better.” The audience and hosts repeat this Fat Science tagline to mark the milestone.
Resources:Fat Science explains where fat really comes from and why it won’t just go away. We’re committed to empowering people with accurate information about metabolism and busting the myth that fat is failure. This podcast is informational only and not medical advice.
Check out our new website to ask a mailbag question. Contact us at questions@fatsciencepodcast.com or dr.c@fatsciencepodcast.com.
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