07/14/2023

Friends of Franz Podcast S2 E25: Weighing in on Obesity with Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen

Over the past year, the tabloids and social media feeds have been flooded with so much discourse and opinions on obesity and its entailed weight loss medications, specifically injectables, such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy. Known as incretin gut-derived hormones, GIP and GLP-1, that regulate secreted insulin levels after food consumption, these diabetes medications have come under hot fire regarding their use and safety. Are those using incretins to target obesity stealing lifesaving medications from diabetics? What exactly is obesity: is it a chronic disease, and is it purely based on the BMI quantity? Whose fault is obesity: the person and their eating patterns or genetics? How safe are Ozempic and the other injectables? Do you still have to count calories or exercise while on these drugs? Will you gain back your lost weight once incretins are stopped?

We are joined today by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a double board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist and the Founder of New York Endocrinology. Currently standing as the Head Endocrinologist in her private practice, where she focuses on diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders (including in-office ultrasonography and nodular fine needle aspiration biopsy), and obesity, Dr. Rocio is also a clinical instructor at NYU Langone Hospital. Online, she provides education on obesity seeking to tear down myths about the chronic disease.