Advertise on podcast: Finally with Dr. Raina Patel

Obesity is a chronic disease, and living with it affects far more than physical health. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel, a physician board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, talks with Dr. Robyn Pashby, a clinical and medical psychologist, founder of Health Psychology Partners in Washington, DC, and The Obesity Society’s Practitioner of the Year. They discuss what weight bias and stigma really are, how they show up in healthcare and even among clinicians, and why the anticipation of judgment keeps many people from seeking care. Dr. Pashby explains what a health psychologist does on an obesity care team, why so few clinicians receive training in this area, and how to find mental health support. They also explore adverse childhood experiences, chronic weight stigma as a form of trauma, stress and coping, and the role of culture in mental health. The conversation closes with “food noise,” GLP-1 medications, and why screening for eating disorders matters before starting treatment. Follow Dr. Pashby on Instagram at @robynpashbyphd and learn more about the Obesity Action Coalition at obesityaction.org. Follow Dr. Raina Patel: Instagram: @drrainapatel Youtube: @drrainapatel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mVmg2ILXrnYDMklGnv6T0?si=59b15e4179b64f27 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finally-with-dr-raina-patel/id1896908922 This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, Chief of the Breast Surgery Program and Director of the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Together they answer the questions women ask most about their breasts: when to start mammograms, what dense breasts really mean, which lumps and changes are usually benign, and what happens when something does need a closer look. Dr. De La Cruz, who specializes in nipple-sparing mastectomy and the hidden scar technique, also breaks down the different types of breast surgery, including lumpectomy and mastectomy, and explains how surgeons and patients decide which option is right. It’s a clear, reassuring conversation for anyone who has ever felt a lump, gotten a callback, or is facing a surgical decision. Resources mentioned: Free or low-cost mammograms (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cervical-cancer-screening/about/screenings.htmlDense breast information: https://densebreast-info.orgHereditary breast cancer support (FORCE): https://www.facingourrisk.orgFind a genetic counselor: https://findageneticcounselor.nsgc.orgSusan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline: 1-877-465-6636Living Beyond Breast Cancer: https://www.lbbc.orgDr. Lucy De La Cruz at MedStar Georgetown: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors/lucy-maria-de-la-cruz-mdFollow Dr. De La Cruz on Instagram @girly_surgeon. Follow Dr. Raina Patel @drrainapatel. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please talk with your own physician about your health.

A new once-weekly injection called retatrutide just posted the strongest weight loss results ever seen from a single medication. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel, a physician board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, breaks down the TRIUMPH-1 trial, newly published in the New England Journal of Medicine. She explains how retatrutide works on three hormone pathways (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon), what the trial found for weight, knee osteoarthritis pain, sleep apnea, blood pressure, cholesterol, and prediabetes, and which side effects deserve attention, including a skin sensation called dysesthesia and dizziness in people on blood pressure medications. She also covers when retatrutide might reach the market, why the researchers are rethinking "maximum dose" in favor of treating to a target, and why buying retatrutide online is a risk not worth taking. In this episode Why glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, belongs in a weight loss medication 25% average weight loss at 80 weeks and about 30% at two years on the highest dose One in five people losing more than a third of their body weight Knee pain down about 60% and sleep apnea events down by more than half Nine in ten people with prediabetes returning to normal blood sugar Side effects: GI effects, dysesthesia, low blood pressure, heart rate, UTIs The case for the lowest effective dose and treating to a target FDA timeline and the gray-market warning Reference Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Davies MJ, et al. Retatrutide, a Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist, for Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. Published September 29, 2026. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2604169. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please talk with your own physician before making changes to your health.

New anxiety in your 40s. Rage that seems to come out of nowhere. Low mood, brain fog, and sleep that falls apart. For many women, these changes show up years before the last period, and too often they get dismissed as stress or "just getting older." In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Agnes Simone, a UCLA-trained, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Olea Women's Health, a Los Angeles practice that combines integrative psychiatry with hormone therapy for women in midlife. Together they explore how shifting estrogen and progesterone affect the brain, why perimenopause is a window of higher risk for depression and anxiety, and how to tell hormone-driven symptoms apart from other mental health conditions. They also cover: - Who is most at risk for mood changes during the menopause transition - Where hormone therapy fits, and where antidepressants and therapy fit - Why a history of PMS, PMDD, or postpartum depression matters - What to say to your doctor so your symptoms are taken seriously If you have ever wondered whether it is your hormones or something more, this conversation is for you. Resources mentioned: CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) therapists in Los Angeles: Julie Ursic: https://www.julieursic.com/Caroline Jennings: https://cbti.directory/search-for-a-clinician/home-directory/usa/united-states-cbti-providers/498-caroline-jenningsDr. McGowan: https://www.drskmcgowan.com/ CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) in Southern California: Dr. Flora Zaken-Greenberg, Cognitive Behavior Associates: https://www.cognitivebehaviorassociates.com/dr-flora-zaken-greenberg/CBT SoCal: https://cbtsocal.com/TherapyLab.com Connect with Dr. Agnes Simone Instagram: @dr.agnesksimone and @oleawomenshealth Connect with Dr. Raina Patel Instagram and YouTube: @drrainapatel Email: [email protected] New episodes every Monday (Finally, Women's Health) and Wednesday (Obesity Medicine). If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own doctor or health care provider before making any changes to your health, medications, or treatments.

Is a high-protein diet hard on your kidneys? Should you stop taking creatine if your labs look off? In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with nephrologist and obesity medicine physician Dr. Ritu Vyas to answer the kidney questions so many people are asking right now. They cover what chronic kidney disease (CKD) actually is and how it's diagnosed, why so many people don't know they have early kidney disease, how much protein is safe and helpful depending on your kidney function, and why protein targets matter even more for people losing weight on GLP-1 medications. They also clear up the confusion around creatine supplements, including why creatine can raise your creatinine on a lab report without meaning your kidneys are damaged. Dr. Ritu Vyas is board certified in nephrology, internal medicine, and obesity medicine. She is the owner of Kidney MD, an independent, physician-led outpatient nephrology practice in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on early CKD care for patients with metabolic conditions like obesity. She is one of few nephrologists who bring together kidney care, obesity medicine, and a food-as-medicine approach, and she believes small changes, including dietary ones, can go a long way in protecting your kidneys. Connect with Dr. Vyas:Website: KidneyMD.netInstagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @KidneyMDLLC Follow Dr. Raina Patel on Instagram and YouTube: @drrainapatel This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

Most women see one doctor for pregnancy and a different one for menopause, and nobody connects the dots in between. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Lindsay Maggio, a quadruple board-certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine, and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. Together they trace the weight and hormone story across a woman's life: what obesity means for pregnancy risk, what women on GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) should know before trying to conceive, and why a history of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes still matters decades later. They also cover postpartum weight, the menopause transition, and where hormone therapy and GLP-1s fit in midlife. Dr. Maggio is the founder of a direct specialty care practice focused on weight management, hormonal health, and midlife wellness. Follow her on Instagram at @lindsay_maggio_md. Website: www.lindsaymaggiomd.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/lindsay_maggio_md/100090209708288/ and https://www.facebook.com/p/Highriskpregnancydoc-61592826369389/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioptimizeweightandwellness/ This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

Obesity is a chronic disease with effective treatment, and access to it is variable. Dr. Raina Patel maps who actually pays in 2026 across Medicare, Medicaid, employer plans, the marketplace, the VA, and cash, with real maintenance prices, the truth about compounded versions, and how to fight a denial that can actually be fought.

Dr. Raina Patel walks through the full birth control menu: the implant, hormonal and copper IUDs, the shot, the pill, the patch, the ring, barrier methods, fertility awareness, permanent options, and emergency contraception. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

The scale stopped moving and you're doing everything the same. Dr. Raina Patel, explains the biology behind the weight loss plateau: why hunger hormones shift and stay shifted, what metabolic adaptation really is, why a plateau on Wegovy or Zepbound is expected rather than failure, the medical causes nobody checks, and how to tell a real plateau from a look-alike. Educational only, not medical advice. Follow Dr. Raina Patel: Instagram: @drrainapatelYoutube: @drrainapatelSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mVmg2ILXrnYDMklGnv6T0?si=59b15e4179b64f27Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finally-with-dr-raina-patel/id1896908922 This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and fewer than half of women know it. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel explains why the years around menopause are a turning point for the heart: what estrogen does for blood vessels, why cholesterol, blood pressure, and belly fat can shift within a few years even when habits stay the same, and which parts of a woman's history (pregnancy complications, early menopause, years of hot flashes) raise risk further. She looks at who carries the heaviest risk, gives a short, clear answer on hormone therapy and the heart, and closes with the exact tests to ask for at the next visit and how a heart attack can look different in women. Dr. Raina Patel is a physician board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine. New episodes every Monday (women's health) and Wednesday (obesity medicine). Follow along on Instagram @drrainapatel. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

A "normal" cholesterol result can still hide real heart risk. Dr. Raina Patel explains ApoB, Lp(a), the new 2026 guidelines, how GLP-1s and weight loss change your lipids, the latest medications, and the truth about statin myths. The numbers your panel isn't showing you - and what to do about them. Follow Dr. Raina Patel: Instagram: @drrainapatel Youtube: @drrainapatel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mVmg2ILXrnYDMklGnv6T0?si=59b15e4179b64f27 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finally-with-dr-raina-patel/id1896908922 This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Kimberly Bekemeier, a board-certified family physician and founder of Hormone Harmony OC, a membership-based women's primary care practice in Huntington Beach focused on perimenopause, menopause, and hormone therapy. Together they walk through menopause in plain language: what's actually happening in the body, the symptoms that get missed or dismissed, and what real treatment options look like today. Whether you're in the thick of it or just starting to wonder, this is the menopause primer every woman deserves. Find Dr. Bekemeier at hormoneharmonyoc.com and on Instagram @hormoneharmonyoc. Sources: Hormone Harmony OC Follow Dr. Raina Patel: Instagram: @drrainapatel Youtube: @drrainapatel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mVmg2ILXrnYDMklGnv6T0?si=59b15e4179b64f27 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finally-with-dr-raina-patel/id1896908922 This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel breaks down how to actually read a nutrition label, in the order that matters. She walks through why serving size changes every other number on the panel, why protein deserves attention before calories, and the real difference between total sugar and added sugar. The episode also covers fiber, sodium, common marketing terms like "reduced sugar" and "multigrain," and specific ingredients worth recognizing by name, including hydrogenated oils, sodium nitrite, and non-nutritive sweeteners. Follow Dr. Raina Patel:Instagram: @drrainapatelYouTube: @drrainapatelSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mVmg2ILXrnYDMklGnv6T0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finally-with-dr-raina-patel/id1896908922 This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

Women's Health Mondays · Episode · Guest appearance This episode originally aired on The Dr. Francavilla Show. She invited me on, and I'm grateful she did. If you're not already following her show, start here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qEaWFEYAm7RPE9oXv1Hq5?si=4e0a8baa13894663 Weight gain in midlife is one of the most common things women bring to me, and it is almost always framed as a personal failure. It isn't. Dr. Francavilla and I sat down for a conversation about what actually changes in the body during perimenopause and menopause, why the same habits stop producing the same results, and what the evidence supports for treatment. We start with the biology: what falling estrogen does to fat distribution, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and sleep, and why those shifts show up on the scale even when nothing about your routine has changed. Then we get into what helps, including hormone therapy, nutrition and protein, resistance training, and where anti-obesity medications fit for women in this stage of life. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

Dr. Raina Patel breaks down the wellness peptide trend taking over Instagram and TikTok, BPC-157, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Tesamorelin, and NAD, separating what’s backed by human evidence from what’s marketing. She covers why this category exploded, the FDA’s ongoing review of whether to widen access to several of these compounds, the regulatory gray zone around “research use only” products, real safety concerns, and how to critically evaluate a peptide claim before trying it. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.