GLP-1 medications are transforming nutrition care, protein is being added to everything, and nutrition misinformation continues to challenge patients and practitioners. So what did we learn at FNCE 2026?

In this special episode of Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach, we're sharing our reactions and biggest takeaways from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2026 in San Antonio.

We discuss the growing challenge of nutrition misinformation, the importance of compassionate childhood obesity care, and why metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) deserves greater attention.

We also explore health equity in GLP-1 and diabetes treatment, the food industry's obsession with protein, the growing conversation around fiber, and the challenges of maintaining adequate nutrition, muscle, and physical performance while taking obesity management medications.

Along the way, we reflect on our experiences at the conference, the evolving role of registered dietitians, and how our own experiences with nutrition counseling shape the way we view obesity care today.

Our biggest takeaway? Better obesity care requires more than medications or weight loss. It requires evidence-based nutrition guidance, individualized support, and healthcare professionals who understand the people they're treating.

Join us for a candid conversation about what caught our attention, what surprised us, and what we hope patients and practitioners take away from FNCE 2026.

More Science. Less Stigma.

Explore more and subscribe: https://weightandmeasurepod.com

Do You Have to Stay on GLP-1s Forever?

Guests: Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD & Melissa Mitri, MS, RD

Can you stop taking GLP-1 medications and maintain your weight loss? What happens when hunger and food noise return? And is staying on treatment long-term really necessary?

In this special episode from our FNCE 2026 coverage, Mike and Zach sit down with registered dietitians Ana Reisdorf and Melissa Mitri to explore one of the most common questions in obesity medicine: Do you have to stay on GLP-1 medications forever?

Ana shares her own experiences stopping and restarting GLP-1 treatment, including how those experiences challenged her professional assumptions about weight management. Melissa offers insights from her work with patients navigating long-term treatment, medication interruptions, and sustainable nutrition habits.

Together, they discuss what current research tells us about discontinuation, where evidence for tapering and maintenance dosing remains limited, and why weight reoccurrence should never be treated as a personal failure.

Topics include:

• What research tells us about stopping GLP-1 medications

• The science and uncertainty surrounding tapering and maintenance doses

• Hunger, food noise, and appetite after discontinuation

• Why healthy habits don't necessarily replace chronic disease treatment

• Nutrition, protein, physical activity, and muscle health

• The psychological transition from active weight loss to maintenance

• Weight reoccurrence, medication restarts, and removing shame

• Making individualized treatment decisions with your healthcare team

The central takeaway: Long-term obesity treatment is not about proving you can manage without medication. It's about finding the tools and care that support your health over time.

Website: https://weightandmeasurepod.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeightandMeasurePodcast

More science. Less stigma.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice.

Are GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound changing how we define successful weight loss? And is the number on the scale telling us the whole story?

What about muscle loss, strength, physical activity, long-term health, and access to obesity treatment?

In this special episode of Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach, recorded in connection with FNCE 2026, we sit down with three experts to explore a fundamental question: Are we measuring GLP-1 success the wrong way?

Joining us:

Dr. Angela Fitch, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of knownwell, discusses what successful obesity treatment should look like beyond pounds lost and why individualized, long-term care matters.

Dr. John Jakicic, Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, breaks down the science of GLP-1 medications, lean mass, muscle loss, strength, and exercise.

Dr. Tracy Zvenyach, Vice President of Advocacy & Research at the Obesity Action Coalition, explores the barriers patients face in accessing treatment, including insurance coverage, affordability, Medicare, Medicaid, and obesity care policy.

• Are we too focused on weight loss when measuring GLP-1 treatment success?

• What's the difference between losing lean mass, muscle mass, and strength?

• Do GLP-1 medications cause muscle loss, and what should patients understand about the research?

• How can resistance training and physical activity support health during obesity treatment?

• What improvements should patients look for beyond the number on the scale?

• Why do people with similar medical needs have different access to GLP-1 medications?

• What could Medicare coverage changes and the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act mean for patients?

• How can patients advocate for better access to comprehensive obesity care?

The bigger question: If successful obesity treatment is about improving health and quality of life, shouldn't we measure more than pounds lost?

Whether you're currently taking a GLP-1 medication, considering treatment, living with obesity, or working in healthcare, this conversation offers a broader perspective on what meaningful treatment success can look like.

Hosted by Mike Donnelly-Boylen and Zach Niemiec, Weight & Measure translates obesity science for the people living it.

We explore obesity medicine, GLP-1 and other obesity management medications, metabolic & bariatric surgery, nutrition, physical activity, and patient advocacy through evidence-based conversations with researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience.

More science. Less stigma.

Subscribe to Weight & Measure on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@WeightandMeasurePodcast

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What does successful obesity treatment mean to you beyond weight loss?

Have improvements in your strength, mobility, health, or quality of life changed how you measure your progress?

Share your perspective in the comments. We want to hear from you.

#GLP1 #WeightLoss #ObesityMedicine

Disclaimer: This episode is intended for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice. Medication and treatment decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional.

Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach | FNCE 2026 Special Coverage

In this Short:

What happens when patients are prescribed GLP-1 medications without meaningful nutrition guidance? And how can registered dietitians help bridge the gap between medical treatment and long-term success?

Recorded live at the 2026 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in San Antonio, Mike and Zach sit down with Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, to discuss the evolving role of nutrition professionals in obesity care.

From supporting patients taking GLP-1 medications to addressing weight stigma in healthcare, Caroline explains why registered dietitians are essential members of the multidisciplinary care team—and why evidence-based nutrition guidance matters more than ever.

The conversation also explores how telehealth is improving access to nutrition care, why language matters when discussing obesity, and how patients can advocate for more comprehensive support.

• Beyond the prescription: Why GLP-1 medications should be accompanied by individualized nutrition support.

• Nutrition and patient safety: The importance of adequate protein, fiber, preventing nutrient deficiencies, and managing medication side effects.

• Addressing weight stigma: How language, provider education, and compassionate care can improve the patient experience.

• Expanding access: How telehealth and registered dietitians can help patients receive support wherever they live.

• Separating science from misinformation: Why credentials and evidence-based guidance matter in an increasingly crowded nutrition information landscape.

Resources:

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: eatright.org

Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo: eatrightfnce.org

Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach translates obesity science into accessible, meaningful conversations for the people living it. Through expert perspectives and lived experience, we explore obesity medicine, GLP-1 therapies, metabolic and bariatric surgery, and the evolving science of obesity care.

More science. Less stigma.

#FNCE2026 #WeightAndMeasure #ObesityMedicine #GLP1 #RegisteredDietitian #NutritionScience #ObesityCare

Thinking about starting a GLP-1 medication or having bariatric surgery? What should you know about your mental health, nutritional deficiencies, emotional eating, and relationship with food before treatment begins?

Whether you're considering Wegovy, Zepbound, gastric sleeve surgery, or gastric bypass, preparing for obesity treatment involves more than understanding weight loss and physical side effects.

In this episode of Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach, hosts Mike Donnelly-Boylen and Zach Niemiec welcome Dr. Lillian Craggs-Dino, registered dietitian, and Dr. Nini Peterson, clinical and health psychologist, to explore the psychological and nutritional considerations before starting an obesity management medication (OMM) or undergoing metabolic & bariatric surgery.

Mental Health & Psychological Evaluations: Why psychological evaluations before bariatric surgery aren't simply pass-or-fail tests, how depression and anxiety fit into treatment planning, and why mental health support should help patients access appropriate care rather than create unnecessary barriers.

Vitamin Deficiencies & Mental Health: How deficiencies involving thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin B12, other B vitamins, and copper may affect neurological and psychological health, and why nutritional screening and monitoring are important.

Food Noise & Emotional Eating: How GLP-1 medications and bariatric surgery can change hunger, appetite, coping mechanisms, body image, and relationships with food.

The MIND Diet & Brain Health: What the MIND diet is, what research suggests about nutrition and cognitive health, and how its principles may fit into obesity treatment.

Family Support & Long-Term Care: Why loved ones shouldn't become the "food police" and why multidisciplinary support from dietitians, behavioral health professionals, and other members of the care team matters.

• How should I prepare mentally for bariatric surgery or GLP-1 treatment?

• What happens during a bariatric psychological evaluation?

• Can vitamin deficiencies affect mood, energy, or cognitive health?

• Do I need to address emotional eating before starting treatment?

• What is the MIND diet, and how does nutrition relate to brain health?

• How can family members provide meaningful support?

Preparing for obesity treatment isn't about becoming a perfect patient. It's about having the right support.

Patients deserve evidence-based, compassionate care that supports their nutritional, physical, and psychological well-being before and after treatment.

Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers! Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with someone considering obesity treatment.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeightandMeasurePodcast

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Website: https://weightandmeasurepod.com

More Science. Less Stigma.

This episode is educational and does not replace individualized medical, nutritional, or mental health advice.

#BariatricSurgery #GLP1 #MentalHealth #ObesityMedicine #WeightAndMeasure

What Does Your Gut Microbiome Have to Do With Obesity, GLP-1s & Bariatric Surgery?

Can your gut microbiome affect obesity, weight loss, GLP-1 medications, or metabolic & bariatric surgery outcomes? And can what you eat actually change how many calories your body absorbs?

In this episode of Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach, we sit down with Karen D. Corbin, PhD, RD, Associate Investigator at AdventHealth Translational Research Institute, for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving science of the gut microbiome, obesity, metabolism, GLP-1 based medications, and metabolic & bariatric surgery.

Dr. Corbin starts with the basics: What is the gut microbiome? Is there actually such a thing as “good” and “bad” gut bacteria? What makes a microbiome healthy? And how do diet, fiber, resistant starch, genetics, hormones, environment, and medications shape the trillions of microorganisms living in our gut?

Then we get into the obesity science.

Dr. Corbin explains research examining how the gut microbiome may influence energy balance and calorie absorption, including her team's controlled feeding study comparing a Western diet with a “microbiome enhancer diet.” Participants eating the microbiome-focused diet absorbed, on average, 116 fewer calories per day, with some individuals showing substantially larger differences in unabsorbed energy.

We also explore the questions many people using obesity treatments are asking:

Does your gut microbiome change when you take a GLP-1 medication? Could your microbiome influence how well a GLP-1 works? Why do two people taking the same medication sometimes experience different weight-loss responses? What happens to the microbiome after sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, or other metabolic & bariatric surgery?

Dr. Corbin explains why much of the research connecting GLP-1 medications and the microbiome still comes from animal models, what scientists need to demonstrate in humans, and why separating the effects of medication, weight loss, diet, GI transit, and metabolic improvements is so difficult.

We also tackle the idea of “GLP-1 receptor sensitivity.” Is GLP-1 resistance actually an established phenomenon? Could genetic differences in the GLP-1 receptor affect treatment response? And have supplements and gut-health products gotten ahead of the science by adding “GLP-1” to their marketing?

Plus, Dr. Corbin busts a major probiotic myth and explains why adding a handful of bacterial species isn't the same thing as rebuilding an incredibly complex microbial ecosystem.

• What the gut microbiome actually is
• “Good” vs. “bad” gut bacteria
• What makes a healthy microbiome
• How food and nutrition shape gut bacteria
• Fiber, resistant starch, whole foods, and ultra-processed foods
• The gut-brain axis, hunger, satiety, and naturally produced GLP-1
• Gut bacteria, calorie absorption, and energy balance
• The microbiome and obesity
• GLP-1 medications and gut microbiome changes
• Why GLP-1 response varies between people
• GLP-1 receptor sensitivity and genetics
• The microbiome after metabolic & bariatric surgery
• Sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass
• Probiotics and microbiome myths
• What gut-health science can and cannot tell us today
• How to support your microbiome with food
• Where microbiome and obesity research goes next

One of the most important takeaways: an association between the microbiome and a disease does not necessarily mean the microbiome caused it. The science is promising, but there is still much researchers don't understand.

As Dr. Corbin puts it, one practical question we can ask ourselves is: “Have I fed my gut microbiome today?”

Subscribe to Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach for evidence-based conversations about obesity, GLP-1 medications, obesity management medications (OMMs), metabolic & bariatric surgery, nutrition, metabolic health, and lived experience.

More Science. Less Stigma.

What happens when your GLP-1 suddenly doesn't feel like it used to?

Maybe the food noise is coming back. Hunger feels stronger. You're thinking about food more often. The scale has started creeping upward. And the medication that once felt life-changing suddenly seems less effective.

Does that mean Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or another GLP-1 medication has stopped working?

In this episode of Weight & Measure, Mike and Deb sit down with Dr. Lindsay Ogle and Dr. Brianna Bingham to talk about one of the biggest fears people face during long-term obesity treatment: What happens when your GLP-1 feels different?

The answer is more complicated, and potentially more reassuring, than simply assuming the medication has failed.

The conversation explores what clinicians actually look for when someone experiences increased hunger, returning food noise, weight reoccurrence, or a change in how their GLP-1 medication feels.

They discuss:

• Can your body actually adapt to a GLP-1 medication over time?
• Is there evidence that GLP-1 medications simply “stop working”?
• Why can food noise or hunger return during maintenance?
• What amount of weight fluctuation is normal?
• How can sleep, stress, nutrition, hydration, movement, and mental health affect weight maintenance?
• Can a new medication change appetite or interfere with weight management?
• What role can corticosteroids and other medications play?
• Should thyroid function, hormones, or other health changes be investigated?
• What should you document before talking with your healthcare provider?
• When might bloodwork such as A1C or thyroid testing be appropriate?
• What happens when you've reached the maximum tolerated dose of your current medication?
• What could the next generation of obesity medications mean for people already taking semaglutide or tirzepatide?

Dr. Bingham also walks through the kind of checklist she would want a patient to bring to an appointment when they feel their treatment has changed, including medication dose and timing, injection information, hunger patterns, food noise, sleep, other health changes, and when the change began.

The episode also tackles an important reality of GLP-1 maintenance: successful obesity treatment does not necessarily mean reaching one number on the scale and staying there forever.

Weight can fluctuate. Bodies change. Health changes. Obesity is a chronic disease requiring long-term management.

And a change on the scale doesn't erase the health improvements or progress you've already made.

Mike and Deb also ask what may come next for people who have reached the limits of today's treatments, including emerging obesity medications and combination therapies such as CagriSema, retatrutide, and amylin-based treatments.

If you've ever thought “My GLP-1 isn't working anymore,” “Why is my food noise back?” or “Why am I gaining weight on Zepbound or Wegovy?”, this conversation is for you.

Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach translates obesity science for the people living it.

More Science. Less Stigma.

This podcast is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Talk with your healthcare professional before making changes to medications or treatment.

How do GLP-1 medications affect food noise and alcohol use? What does obesity research tell us about talking to children about weight? And what happens when researchers actually listen to people living with obesity?

In this episode of Weight & Measure, Mike Donnelly-Boylen and Deb Cooperman are joined by obesity researchers Dr. Michelle Cardel and Dr. Gary Foster for an evidence-based conversation about GLP-1 medications, food noise, alcohol use, childhood weight conversations, weight stigma, and patient-centered obesity research.

The conversation begins with food noise, a term patients were using to describe persistent thoughts about food before researchers had a validated way to measure the experience.

What exactly is food noise? How is it different from hunger, cravings, or simply thinking about food? Michelle and Gary explain how patient experiences helped researchers define and measure food noise and what we're learning about how GLP-1 medications may affect it.

Then the conversation turns to another unexpected experience reported by people taking obesity medications: changes in alcohol use.

Michelle discusses research involving more than 14,000 people who started an obesity medication and what researchers observed about alcohol consumption. The group explores how patient reports can provide an important scientific signal while separating interesting observations from conclusions supported by evidence.

The episode then moves into children, weight, and the language parents use.

Michelle and Gary discuss research examining parents' beliefs about how much control children have over their weight and how those beliefs relate to negative weight comments. What happens when a parent's intention to help doesn't match how a child experiences the conversation? What have young people told researchers about how they want parents to approach conversations about weight?

The discussion ultimately raises a bigger question:

What does science miss when it doesn't listen to patients?

The group explores why meaningful outcomes in obesity treatment may extend beyond pounds lost or BMI. Reduced food noise, improved mobility, quality of life, freedom from constant thoughts about food, and other patient-defined outcomes may matter enormously even when they have historically been difficult to capture in obesity research.

In this episode:
• What is food noise, and how is it measured?
• Food noise vs. hunger and cravings
• GLP-1 medications and food noise
• Food noise during weight loss and maintenance
• Obesity medications and alcohol use
• When patient reports become research questions
• Social media observations vs. scientific evidence
• How parents talk to children about weight
• Childhood obesity, weight comments, and weight stigma
• What children want from parents when discussing weight
• Why weight loss and BMI aren't the only outcomes that matter
• How patient experience can shape obesity research

Guests

Dr. Michelle Cardel is an obesity scientist and registered dietitian whose work has included obesity treatment, nutrition, health disparities, children and families, and incorporating patient perspectives into research. She serves as Senior Medical Director at Kailera Therapeutics.

Dr. Gary Foster is a clinical psychologist and obesity researcher whose work has focused on obesity treatment, behavior change, weight stigma, and translating research into people's lives. He serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Lingo at Abbott.

Michelle and Gary previously worked together at WeightWatchers, where they collaborated on research examining the experiences of people living with obesity.

Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach

Person-centered, evidence-based conversations for the obesity, GLP-1, and metabolic & bariatric surgery communities.

More Science. Less Stigma.

www.weightandmeasurepod.com