Weight Management Episodes

You Are Not Your Struggle So many women are trying to eat better, lose weight, meal plan, feed their families, manage busy schedules, and somehow not feel guilty about every food choice along the way. In this episode, I’m joined by Kelsey Wickenhauser, PA, homeschooling mom of four, Christian health coach, and founder of Kingdom Fit Moms, for a conversation about what it really looks like to pursue health in the middle of real life. Key Takeaways: Why shame keeps so many women stuck in ...

What Really Happens Inside an Obesity Clinic GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now. Patients are asking about Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, compounded medications, muscle loss, “Ozempic face,” insurance denials, and what happens when the weight loss slows down. But what does obesity medicine actually look like inside the clinic? In this episode, I’m joined by Joseph Zucchi, PA-C, clinical supervisor and physician associate at Transition Medical Weight Loss in Salem, New Hampshire. This is n...

Weight loss doesn’t fail overnight. It usually happens slowly… through all-or-nothing thinking, unrealistic expectations, and patients feeling like they have to “start over” every Monday. In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian Sam Barone for a conversation about sustainable weight loss, behavior change, and why the best “diet” might not be a diet at all. We unpack the real reason patients struggle to maintain weight loss, how to shift away from perfectionism, and why focusing onl...

Why Patients Overeat and Feel Out of Control What’s really driving overeating: hunger, habit, or emotions? In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Johnston, a physician assistant turned eating habits and weight loss coach, to unpack why patients eat past fullness, why nighttime eating feels so out of control, and how to quickly uncover what’s actually going on beneath the behavior. Here’s what you’ll learn: The difference between feeling satisfied and feeling full, and why that distinction matter...

How To Decide Between Bariatric Surgery and Obesity Medications I’m joined by Kate Fuss, PA-C to unpack how GLP-1 medications and bariatric surgery actually work together, when each option makes sense, and what primary care clinicians should understand when caring for patients before or after bariatric surgery. We also dive into the psychological side of weight loss, because hitting a number on the scale doesn’t always translate into better mental health. What You’ll Learn How to shift patien...

Discuss Pediatric Weight Gain Without Triggering Shame What would you say if a parent asked, “Can you tell my son he needs to lose weight?” That question sits at the center of one of the hardest conversations in pediatrics. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Amy Beck, clinical psychologist and expert in teen mental health and weight stigma, to unpack how we address pediatric obesity without causing unintended harm. Because this isn’t just about weight. It’s about protecting kids in a culture ...

Patient-Centered Weight Management | Dr. Robert Kushner on the Six-Factor Questionnaire, GLP-1s, and Lifestyle Counseling “Eat less, move more” might be the fastest way to lose your patient’s trust, according my my guest Dr. Robert Kushner, a passionate doctor, educator, and researcher who has spent more than four decades improving care for people living with overweight and obesity. Dr. Kushner shares the framework from his new book, Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six-Factor Professio...

What’s missing in obesity care? It’s not another diet plan or more willpower. In this episode Colleen is joined by Dr. Robyn Pashby, clinical health psychologist and co-author of The New Food Fight, to unpack the mental and emotional side of obesity care (the part most clinicians were never trained to address) Together, they break down why shame, stigma, and oversimplified “just eat less and move more” messaging continue to derail patient progress, even in the era of GLP-1 medications. Dr. Pas...

GLP-1 medications are changing the game in obesity care. Patients are losing weight, feeling full faster… and often eating less overall. But less food can also mean less muscle, unless we guide them toward the right nutrition. In today’s episode, we unpack how clinicians can better counsel patients using anti-obesity meds, and how nutrient-dense, affordable options like pork can support satiety, muscle maintenance, and sustainable weight loss. In this episode, we cover: How GLP-1 medications ...

Menopause nutrition and weight management aren’t as simple as “eat less, move more.” In this episode, menopause expert and RD Dr. Su-Nui Escobar breaks down what’s really driving midlife weight changes and what clinicians should focus on instead. What You’ll Learn: How fluctuating estrogen affects fat distribution, metabolism, inflammation, and cardiometabolic risk Why traditional weight-loss advice fails during perimenopause High-impact nutrition strategies: protein targets, fiber, anti-inf...

How To Address Weight In A Body Positive Culture In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tzvi Doron, a board-certified Family and Obesity Medicine physician and lipidology expert, to unpack the middle ground between body neutrality and evidence-based obesity care. We talk about how to approach weight without shame, how weight loss impacts lipids and cardiometabolic risk, and why protecting lean mass should be your new top priority in weight management. Key Takeaways Weight ≠ worth. But it still ...

What happens when a woman in menopause, a man considering bariatric surgery, and a young adult on a GLP-1 all walk into clinic? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Leslie Golden, a dual board-certified physician in Obesity Medicine and Family Medicine and founder of Weight in Gold Wellness. She brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to her work—helping patients heal their relationship with food while addressing the complex biology of weight. Together, we walk through how she appro...

In this episode, I sit down with Julie Duffy Dillon, RDN, therapist, and author of Find Your Food Voice, to help clinicians replace diet-culture with practical, patient-centered coaching. We dig into what a “food voice” is, why so many people get disconnected from it, and how you can guide patients back to hunger/fullness cues without meal plans, shame, or quick fixes. You’ll leave with language you can use tomorrow in clinic—plus simple interventions (like CHiPs check-ins and “letters to food”...

Meal replacements are an excellent tool for weight management. But they aren't the same as protein shakes. Medical weight-loss dietitian Julia Axelbaum joins me to clear up the confusion, define the difference (they are not interchangeable), and map out exactly when to use each—on their own or alongside evidence-based tools like GLP-1s. You’ll walk away with a 3-step label checklist you can teach patients, practical strategies to curb evening cravings, and a step-by-step plan for transi...

Today’s episode will change how you think (and talk) about food. Instead of obsessing over calories or cutting carbs, what if we taught patients to focus on nutrient density? I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, bestselling author of Nutrivore. You’ll learn how to shift the conversation from restriction to addition—and give patients permission to enjoy their food and improve their health. What You’ll Learn: How to explain nutrient density in 60 seconds (using a car analogy your patients will lo...

Join The Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course! Enter code POD15 at checkout for 15% off! Anti-obesity medications are everywhere—but they also come with new challenges. From rapid weight loss and side effects to TikTok-fueled supplement questions, patients on weight management medications need more than generic nutrition advice. In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Mitri, a seasoned weight loss dietitian and health writer, to dig into exactly how to support patients on their weight loss journe...

It’s a struggle every clinician has heard: “I barely eat, but I can’t lose weight.” So, what’s really going on? In this episode, I sit down with registered dietitian Sarah Allison, RDN to unpack the hidden factors behind why patients feel this way—and why simply “eating less” isn’t the answer. We explore: ✅ The metabolic slowdown that happens with chronic dieting ✅ How underreporting calories and forgotten foods affect weight loss ✅ The impact of sleep, stress, and exercise on metabolism ✅ Why ...

Ever feel overwhelmed when a patient asks for weight loss advice? Whether it’s helping a perimenopausal mom with a packed schedule or guiding a retired man managing type 2 diabetes, personalized strategies make all the difference. In this episode, Colleen is joined by Whittany, Co-Founder of Alterra Health and a Registered Dietitian specializing in bariatric care and medical weight loss. Together, they tackle two real-life patient scenarios to illustrate how clincians can deliver personalized, ...

Send Colleen a Text Message Providing diabetes education is tough. Doing it in a 15-minute consult? Even harder! In today’s episode, we’re unpacking a strategy that simplifies nutrition education for healthcare professionals and empowers patients to make healthier food choices: The Diabetes Plate Method. With nutrition playing a foundational role in chronic disease prevention and management, understanding how to present meal planning in a clear, actionable way is more important than ever. Key T...

Send Colleen a Text Message Did the title of this episode hurt a little? Are you guilty of telling your patients to just eat less and move more to lose weight? Don’t feel bad, we all are. Register for the free Motivational Interviewing workshop In this episode of the Exam Room Nutrition podcast, Colleen welcomes Dr. Michelle May, a former family physician and expert in mindful eating. They discuss the importance of shifting away from the diet mentality and embracing weight neutral and weight i...

Send Colleen a Text Message Do you feel awkward talking about a patients weight? You know you should talk about it, but aren’t really sure when and how? And you definitely don’t want to offend or shame the patient, but you know they really need to make some changes to their health. In this episode of the Exam Room Nutrition podcast, I team up with Nina, a registered dietitian and PhD health psychologist to explore how to discuss a patient's weight in a compassionate yet effective manner. Balanci...

Send Colleen a Text Message Dealing with unmotivated patients can be one of the most challenging aspects of our work as healthcare providers. For today’s episode, I’m going to challenge this thought: are our patients unmotivated or are they just having a hard time getting started? Changing habits is HARD. Change takes time, patience, and persistence. It’s easy for patient's to become overwhelmed when faced with a difficult task or one they think will be unpleasant. It’s human nature to want to a...

Send Colleen a Text Message I believe that for every setback there is an opportunity for both our patients and us to grow stronger and be more capable in the future. In today’s episode, we'll explore why diets fail and how we can help the patient refocus their mindset to learn that failures are an opportunity for growth. I’ll give you 10 ways to shift your patient’s mindset about themselves and their dieting journey. When patients find themselves stuck in a cycle of dieting failures, it's crucia...

Send Colleen a Text Message Help me make this podcast better. If you've got 30 seconds to answer 5 questions, you could win a $10 Amazon gift card . According to James Clear, "bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change." Today's episode will: Teach you how to guide your patients in creating a system for change, that will actually work. Show you how to lead your patient to set achievable goals. Learn the...