Dr. Paika Podcast

Most people still believe obesity is just about willpower. “Eat less.” “Move more.” “Try harder.” But after decades of research — and after treating thousands of patients — we now know that narrative is wrong. In this video, Dr. Mohammed K. Paika, board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine, breaks down the 5 biggest myths about obesity that continue to keep millions of people stuck,...

Vaping is not harmless—and it’s not just about your lungs. Most people think vaping is safer than smoking. Many believe it helps with weight control or appetite. But what almost no one talks about is what vaping is doing to your metabolism, hormones, brain, and long-term weight. As a board-certified Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician, and after years working as a hospitalist, I’ve se...

Most people think hookah is safer than cigarettes. Some even believe it’s harmless. But the science tells a very different story. In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika — board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine — explains how hookah use is directly linked to weight gain, belly fat, insulin resistance, hormone disruption, and metabolic syndrome. One hookah session can expose you to mas...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Mohammed K. Paika — board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine — reveals a truth most people never hear: smoking does NOT keep you thin. In fact, nicotine can quietly drive dangerous belly fat, insulin resistance, and metabolic disease even in people who look “skinny.” Drawing on two decades of real hospital experience, Dr. Paika explains how tobacco da...

Why do so many breast cancer survivors struggle to lose weight — even when they follow diet and exercise programs perfectly? A new 2025 study published in the journal Obesity reveals a powerful and often ignored reason: poor sleep can cut the effectiveness of weight loss in half. In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika — Board-Certified in Internal Medicine & Obesity Medicine — breaks down groundbre...

Most people train children the same way they train adults — and that’s a huge mistake. Children are not just smaller adults. Their bones are still growing, their nervous systems are still developing, and their habits and identity around movement are still forming. The way we introduce exercise in childhood can shape bone strength, coordination, injury risk, confidence, metabolism, and lifelong hea...

How much protein do you actually need to lose fat, build muscle, and stay healthy as you age? In this video, Dr. Mohammed K. Paika — board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine — explains how much protein you really need based on your goals, age, and metabolism. You’ll learn: • Why the standard protein recommendation is often too low • How protein needs change during fat loss, muscle...

You’re doing everything right — eating clean, exercising, watching calories — and yet the scale won’t move. Why? In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika explains the hidden biological reasons alcohol makes fat loss harder than you think. It’s not just about calories. Alcohol changes how your liver burns fat, how your hormones regulate hunger, how your brain controls cravings, how your body stores viscer...

Fatty liver disease now affects nearly 1 in 3 adults — and most people have no idea they have it. In this short video, Dr. Mohammed Paika explains why fatty liver is not actually a liver problem, but a metabolic and obesity-driven condition rooted in insulin resistance, visceral fat, and modern lifestyle factors. You’ll learn what fatty liver really is, why obesity and belly fat drive fat buildup...

Cardio is not about punishment or burning calories — it’s about training the most important muscle in your body: your heart. In this long-form masterclass, Dr. Mohammed Paika — board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine — explains how cardiorespiratory training actually works, how heart-rate zones affect fat loss, what VO₂ max really means, how cardio impacts insulin resistance and...

Why do you reach for comfort food when you’re stressed — even when you know better? In this PODCAST, Dr. Mohammed Paika — board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine — explains the real neuroscience behind emotional eating, stress hormones like cortisol, dopamine reward loops, and why willpower isn’t the problem. You’ll learn:  – The difference between physical hunger and emotional h...

Working out after 45 comes with unique challenges—and most people are doing it wrong. Real-world fitness advice for adults 45 and over, straight from a board-certified Internal Medicine & Obesity Medicine physician. We cover: Why going to the gym feels harder after 45 (and how to overcome it) How to work out safely without joint pain or burnout Stretching and mobility What multivitamins actual...

If you’re on a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound and struggling with what to eat, this podcast is for you. I’m Dr. Mohammed Paika, board-certified in Obesity and Internal Medicine, and in this video I break down a simple, low-calorie, high-protein meal that works with GLP-1 medications — not against them. We’ll cover: • Why protein is critical on GLP-1s • How to avoid na...

Japan is often viewed as one of the healthiest countries in the world, with some of the lowest obesity rates and the longest life expectancy. But here’s the truth most people don’t realize: metabolic disease is quietly rising in Japan , even among people who look thin. In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika , board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine , breaks down the Japan obesity para...

In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika , board-certified in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine , shares a real hospital case involving a severe complication shortly after starting Ozempic (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) . An elderly patient presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, severe hypoglycemia, and acute pancreatitis shortly after being placed on a GLP-1 medication while still on insulin....

Obesity and sleep are deeply connected — and most people have no idea how powerful this relationship truly is. In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika explains how obesity disrupts sleep, why poor sleep causes weight gain, and how conditions like sleep apnea, hormonal imbalance, and cortisol overload trap millions of people in a cycle of fatigue and fat gain. If you struggle with insomnia, snoring, slee...

🩺 In this video, Dr. Mohammed Paika breaks down the truth about the modern obesity medications transforming weight-loss care — including GLP-1s like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. This is a clear, evidence-based, patient-friendly explanation of: • How each medication works • Which medications are FDA-approved for obesity • Side effects you MUST watch for • Who is a good candidate • What...

🩺 In this episode, Dr. Mohammed Paika breaks down the REAL epidemiology of obesity — why it’s rising globally, what’s driving the crisis, and the hidden forces influencing our weight. This is the clearest, most patient-friendly explanation you’ll find on the internet. You’ll learn: • How obesity rates exploded over the last 40 years • Why genetics, environment, hormones, stress, and sleep all pla...

⚕️ Medical & Educational Disclaimer The Dr. Paika Podcast and all related content are provided by Dr. Mohammed K. Paika, MD for general educational and informational purposes only. The information shared is not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with your personal physician or qualified healthcare professional. Listening to this podcast does not...

Thinking about using a prescription medication for weight loss? 💊 In this quick yet powerful 9-minute episode, Dr. Mohammed Paika, M.D., Internal Medicine & Obesity Medicine Specialist, breaks down the 7 FDA-approved anti-obesity medications — how they work, their benefits, and the side effects you should know. 🔥 In just 9 minutes, you’ll learn: 👉 The truth about how weight-loss drugs work...

After 20 years in clinical medicine — from hospitals in Miami and New York to patient care across the U.S. — I’ve realized that medicine isn’t just about diagnosis and prescriptions… it’s about people. In this episode of the Dr. Paika Podcast, I share the life-changing lessons that two decades of medical practice have taught me — lessons about compassion, mindset, prevention, and the deeper meanin...

Obesity isn’t just about diet and exercise — it’s a chronic, multifactorial disease. In this episode, Dr. Mohammed Paika breaks down what obesity medicine really is, how it’s defined, what causes it, and why stigma and misinformation are holding us back. Learn how lifestyle, hormones, genetics, sleep, and environment all play a role — and what science-backed treatments actually work. 🎥 Presented...