Weight, Obesity & Metabolic Health
Evidence-based obesity care, sustainable weight management, incretin-based therapies, body composition, and long-term metabolic health. Weight management, obesity care, GLP-1 medications, metabolic health, obesity treatment, cardiometabolic health
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Oral Wegovy vs Foundayo: Which Works Better for Weight Loss?
If it feels like the list of weight loss medications keeps growing, you are not alone. Even as a dietitian and diabetes care and education specialist, I still find myself reaching for a cheat sheet to keep track of brand names, dosing schedules, oral versus injectable options, and which medications are approved for obesity, diabetes, or both. And the field is only becoming more crowded. With hundreds of obesity and diabetes medications currently in development, the landscape of obesity treatment is evolving rapidly. More recently, I have been getting a lot of questions about the difference between oral Wegovy (semaglutide)…
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Pill or Injection? Comparing Wegovy Options for Weight Loss
After huge anticipation, Wegovy’s oral tablet launched in the U.S. this January. By February, nearly 200,000 people were already using the pill. Health economists estimate it could add approximately $2.76 billion to overall Wegovy sales by 2030, with its share growing from about 3% in 2026 to 17% by 2031. At first glance, this momentum may suggest the pill is preferred over the once-weekly injection. However, that is not necessarily the case. Many individuals continue to prefer an injectable option, particularly when it better aligns with their routine or expectations. The choice between oral and injectable therapy is not straightforward.…
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Diabetes and Nutrition: Adequate Nourishment During Weight Loss
March is one of my favorite months. Along with several family birthdays, it is also National Nutrition Month. Established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this annual campaign encourages individuals and communities to make informed food choices and build sustainable eating habits. This year’s theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” aligns closely with the direction of the American Diabetes Association 2026 Standards of Care. To celebrate, each week this month I will take a closer look at updates to nutrition guidance in Section 5 of the 2026 Standards. This week, we will explore shifts in the language and…
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What Are Peptides and Why Is Everyone Talking About Them?
In keeping with the latest viral TikTok trends, I couldn’t help but notice the surge of content tagged with #peptides. This isn’t simply encouragement to eat more protein-rich foods like meat, fish, or eggs. Instead, the conversation has shifted toward pills, powders, tinctures, and even injections of various peptides, many of which were never covered in my dietetics training. Naturally, that raised questions. If we’re not talking about the peptides that come from whole foods, what exactly are people taking? I dug into the literature to better understand what peptides are, how they’re being used, and what we actually know…
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Do You Need to Lose Weight to Prevent Diabetes? Maybe Not
Weight loss has long been considered the top recommendation for preventing type 2 diabetes. In fact, research shows that losing just 5–7% of body weight can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by nearly 60%. But what about the people who lose weight and still have elevated glucose levels? Or, those who make significant lifestyle changes, don’t lose weight, yet show improvements in their glucose status? Are they simply outliers, fortunate or unfortunate depending on how their metabolism responds? Emerging research suggests that diabetes prevention is more complex than simply losing weight. Read on to learn what scientists are discovering…
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Retatrutide and the Grey Market: Buyer Beware
This should go without saying, but the internet can be both an incredible resource and an extremely dangerous place for health and wellness information. At a time when obesity rates are soaring, mental and emotional stress are at an all-time high, and access to reputable healthcare can feel nearly impossible, many people are turning online in search of solutions. Unfortunately, that desperation leaves individuals vulnerable to the predatory promises of the wellness industry. The latest example is the buzz around retatrutide; or “Reta,” as it’s trending on TikTok. Like candy offered from the back of a van, it’s tempting, accessible,…
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How GLP-1s Are Reshaping Consumer Behavior
It’s been about a month since FNCE 2025 in Nashville, and I’m still sifting through my notes and revisiting the sessions I loved. One that stood out was the panel “The GLP-1 Effect: Understanding Consumer Behavior Shifts and Their Impact on Food, Nutrition, and Innovation.” The sheer scale of GLP-1 adoption and the depth of the data presented were striking. What made the session even more compelling was its interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together insights from industry leaders, physicians, RDs, and AI-generated consumer modeling. GLP-1 medications are reshaping metabolic health, culture, consumer expectations, and the future of the food landscape. Here…
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Nutrition and Type 1 Diabetes: Supporting Safe and Sustainable Weight Loss
I recently had the opportunity to contribute to an upcoming text from the American Diabetes Association on nutrition therapy in diabetes care. Specifically, I was tasked with reviewing and rewriting a chapter on nutrition recommendations for adults with type 1 diabetes and insulin-requiring type 2. In my excitement for its upcoming publication, I wanted to share a preview of what makes weight and fat loss in type 1 diabetes uniquely complex and highlight evidence-based strategies for supporting safe, sustainable weight management in this population. I hope this sneak peek sparks curiosity and encourages you to consider adding this valuable resource…
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What’s the Deal with GLP-1 Microdosing?
Is Less Really More? When it comes to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, that’s the question more providers and patients are starting to ask. Originally approved for type 2 diabetes and later for obesity treatment, GLP-1 and other incretin-based therapies have rapidly gained traction in both clinical and consumer spaces. If you’re newer to prescribing or supporting GLP-1 therapy, I’ve put together a four-part series covering key considerations, including initiation, weight management, cost, and side effect mitigation. Now, a new conversation is emerging: GLP-1 microdosing. What does microdosing mean in this context? Does it have clinical merit? And who…
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ADA Scientific Sessions: Expanding the Discussion to Include Weight Bias
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago. It was a phenomenal gathering of researchers, clinicians, scientists, and experts in the field of cardiometabolic health. One of the most compelling shifts I observed was the growing emphasis on obesity care and treatment. The Obesity Association, a new division of the American Diabetes Association, recently published the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity to guide respectful, evidence-based treatment. These standards highlight weight stigma and bias as critical issues in clinical practice. To support the launch of the standards, a special…
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Obesity Care vs. Weight Loss: What’s the Difference?
The International Obesity Collaborative, a global alliance of professional organizations focused on improving obesity care, recently released a powerful consensus statement: obesity care and weight loss are not the same. You might be wondering: What’s the difference? Isn’t all obesity care centered around weight loss? And wouldn’t weight loss be appropriate for someone with obesity? The answer may surprise you. Let’s take a closer look at the International Obesity Collaborative’s new consensus statement, what it means for healthcare professionals, and how it could reshape the way we approach obesity treatment in clinical practice.
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GLP-1 Success Starts with Dietitian Leadership
It should come as no surprise that a large part of the success with incretin-based therapies— like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—stems from the effective integration of lifestyle modifications, particularly nutrition. This success occurs at both the individual and programmatic levels. But it’s not always for the reasons you might expect. By the time most people begin incretin-based therapy, especially for weight management, they’ve often already tried a range of diets: calorie counting, commercial weight loss programs like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, and more. This time, they’re looking for something different—something that addresses the deeper pathophysiology and root causes…
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GLP-1 Therapy Part 4: Navigating the Decision to Discontinue
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference on the topic of nutrition strategies for effective GLP-1 use in obesity treatment. This premier event, dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals in Colorado, offered a valuable opportunity to share updated evidence on GLP-1 therapies, while also debunking common myths to promote informed and unbiased nutrition counseling. In this four-part series, I’m excited to share my key recommendations to help support your practice. In Part 4, we’ll discuss some of the key questions to consider when deciding whether to discontinue therapy. New…
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GLP-1 Therapy Part 3: Strategies for Successful Weight Loss
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference on the topic of nutrition strategies for effective GLP-1 use in obesity treatment. This premier event, dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals in Colorado, offered a valuable opportunity to share updated evidence on GLP-1 therapies, while also debunking common myths to promote informed and unbiased nutrition counseling. In this four-part series, I’m excited to share my key recommendations to help support your practice. In Part 3, we’ll discuss strategies for successful weight loss while on GLP-1 therapy, as well as the transition…
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GLP-1 Therapy Part 2: Preventing and Managing Side Effects
I recently had the pleasure of presenting at the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference on the topic of nutrition strategies for effective GLP-1 use in obesity treatment. This premier event, dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals in Colorado, offered a valuable opportunity to share updated evidence on GLP-1 therapies, while also debunking common myths to promote informed and unbiased nutrition counseling. In this four-part series, I’m excited to share my key recommendations to help support your practice. In Part 2, we’ll discuss strategies for managing and preventing medication-related side effects New to this series? Start with…
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GLP-1 Therapy Part 1: Setting Realistic Weight Loss Expectations
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference on the topic of nutrition strategies for effective GLP-1 use in obesity treatment. This premier event, dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals in Colorado, offered a valuable opportunity to share updated evidence on GLP-1 therapies, while also debunking common myths to promote informed and unbiased nutrition counseling. In this four-part series, I’m excited to share my key recommendations to help support your practice. In Part 1, we’ll explore key considerations for identifying appropriate GLP-1 candidates and highlight the importance of setting realistic…
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Blood Sugar Trends: Defining What’s Truly “Normal”
With the rise of direct-to-consumer continuous glucose monitoring, there has been growing interest in understanding blood sugar trends. Reasons for CGM use include to improve metabolic health, prevent diabetes, enhance sports performance and recovery, or simply out of curiosity. Users can access real-time data, averages, trends, and insights at any time, day or night. With all this data, you might find yourself wondering: What do my numbers mean? Should I be concerned? Is this normal? All valid questions. Let’s explore the evidence behind defining “normal” blood sugar trends. Diagnosing Diabetes To define what is considered normal, it’s best to start…
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Fatty Liver on the Rise: What You Need to Know
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that over 40% of the U.S. population will develop metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver, by 2050—equating to approximately 122 million adults. This number is both astounding and concerning, especially as fatty liver disease is rapidly becoming one of the leading causes of liver transplants—and a new liver isn’t easy to come by. In fact, the study predicts that liver cancer cases will double, while the need for liver transplants will quadruple. This raises an urgent question: What is being done to…
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Obesity Redefined: A Bold New Approach to Diagnosis
A recent publication in The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology is prompting the medical community to rethink how obesity is screened and diagnosed. Endorsed by over 75 organizations worldwide, including scientific societies and patient advocacy groups, this consensus calls for a major overhaul of the language, classification, and diagnostic criteria used to address excess adiposity and its impact on the body. Interestingly, the commission not only includes international experts from diverse medical specialties and regions but also individuals with lived experience of obesity. Together, they aim to define ‘clinical obesity’ and establish objective criteria for its diagnosis. Let’s dive into their…
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The Weight of the Nation: Insights from the Global Health Data Exchange
A recent article published in The Lancet highlights the concerning status of overweight and obesity in the United States, providing a stark look at the trajectory of this public health crisis. Not only are the numbers projected to rise, but the data also underscores a troubling reality: efforts to combat overweight and obesity over the past 30 years have been largely ineffective. I’m no public health expert, but this clearly calls for a critical reassessment of current strategies and the adoption of a more comprehensive approach. Could this study be the wake-up call we need? Study Overview and Data Analysis…
