Weight and Metabolism

Our gut constantly talks to our brain through a symphony of hormones that control hunger, fullness, and energy balance. Some hormones rev up appetite, while others apply the brakes. In this episode, we explore the key players: ghrelin (the hunger hormone), GLP-1, GIP, PYY, and other satiety hormones that tell your brain when to stop eating. We also talk about the pancreatic hormones like glucagon,...

When people say "I'm doing everything right, but the weight won't come off," the answer often lies in insulin resistance . Insulin is the key that unlocks your cells so glucose can enter. Once inside, your body can burn it for energy, store it as glycogen, or convert it to fat. In a healthy system, this works seamlessly. But here's where things go wrong. Insulin Resistance: When you constantly eat...

In 1994, scientists discovered leptin, a hormone made by fat cells that tells your brain you've had enough to eat. They thought it was the cure for obesity. But here's the twist: most people with obesity don't have too little leptin. They have too much. Their brain just isn't listening. This is called leptin resistance. Leptin is your body's appetite thermostat. When it works, it regulates hunger...

Obesity isn't just about food and calories. It's about a highly complex network of hormones that tells you when to eat, when to stop, and how much energy to burn. When that system gets disrupted, everything changes. The Key Hormonal Players: Leptin tells your brain "we have enough energy, stop eating." But in obesity, the brain stops listening (leptin resistance), so you feel hungry even when you'...

In the last episode, we talked about how genetics play a huge role in obesity — shaping metabolism, appetite, and fat storage. But here's the catch: your genes aren't your destiny. Today, we're diving into epigenetics — the field that explains how your environment and lifestyle choices interact with your genes, deciding which ones get turned on or off. Think of it as the software that runs on your...

Let me start by explaining what "pathophysiology" actually means — because this word gets thrown around in medicine all the time, and it's worth understanding. Physiology is how the body normally works (your heart pumps blood, your lungs bring in oxygen). Pathophysiology is the story of what happens when things go wrong — the behind-the-scenes explanation of how disease disrupts normal function. N...

This episode is about understanding what's really at stake when obesity goes untreated — not to scare you, but to give you clarity on why this work matters so much. Let me start by explaining two critical medical terms: mortality (death) and morbidity (illness and its impact on quality of life). Think of a hurricane: mortality is how many people it kills, morbidity is how many survive but live wit...

Let's talk about something that doesn't get addressed enough: the stigma, bias, and discrimination that people with obesity face every single day. Obesity stigma exists because of oversimplification, cultural beauty standards, medical bias, harmful language, and — yes — legal discrimination . In many places, it's still legal to deny someone a job, charge higher insurance premiums, or refuse accomm...

This is the question I get asked most often — and the answer matters more than you might think. In this episode, we're tackling the science, the stigma, and the uncomfortable truth: your weight is not your fault. If you've ever been told to "just eat less and move more," if you've been blamed, judged, or dismissed because of your weight — this episode is for you. Because obesity isn't a willpower...

Before we dive into all the science, protocols, and practical tools — let me tell you why I'm really here. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own journey: from vanilla scones and lattes to oats and smoothies (thanks to my son for that wake-up call), from primary care physician to triple board-certified specialist in family medicine, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine. I shar...

Welcome to Weight and Metabolism with Dr. Deepti Sharma — your health is in your hands, and this podcast exists to help you take it back. In this very first episode, Dr. Deepti Sharma introduces the heart and mission behind this show. She breaks down what to expect — real, evidence-based conversations about weight, metabolism, hormones, nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and the everyday habits t...