The Dr. Francavilla Show

Despite the rapidly increasing demand for weight loss drugs, they have gotten hard and harder to get. Shortages of these crucial medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and other weight loss drugs are creating a bigger issue in treating patients with diabetes and other weight-related diseases. In this episode, I've once again invited Emily Sutton, PharmD to delve deeper into this issue. We...

In recent times, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a pressing global health issue, rapidly surpassing hepatitis and alcohol-related problems as the leading cause of liver disease and transplants. Often undetected until advanced stages, MAFLD is intricately linked with metabolic syndrome, hampering the liver's capacity to regulate excess sugars and lipids effectiv...

Our reproductive health goes through various stages in life, starting from puberty with the onset of menstruation, through the reproductive years marked by regular cycles and fertility, to perimenopause in the late 30s and early 40s, culminating in menopause. Understanding how these stages can affect our weight is crucial for managing reproductive health and seeking appropriate care. In this episo...

Whether you are new to exercise or already engaged in fitness activities, this episode will motivate and inspire you to prioritize movement for a healthier and happier life. In this episode, Jeff Young, a distinguished medical fitness expert with over 30 years of experience, shares his profound insights into the transformative impact of exercise on overall well-being, providing necessary informati...

With July's scorching heat comes the highly anticipated swimsuit season, So today, we explore the profound impact of body image in our society and the growing movement towards embracing oneself with love and acceptance. I want to unravel powerful mindset shifts that can help us reshape our perception of body image.  Because this is something a lot of American women struggle with. Whether it&a...

In our modern society, processed food has become increasingly prevalent in our diets. These foods offer convenience, extended shelf life, and enhanced flavors. However, their classification varies based on the degree of processing, ranging from minimally processed items to heavily processed foods with additives and refined ingredients. In this episode,I delved into the topic of processed food and...

For nearly a century, the Body Mass Index (BMI) has been a go-to tool for measuring a person's health and medical risks. However, recently the American Medical Association voted to move away from solely relying on BMI. They've recognized its limitations and unreliability in accurately assessing an individual's health status. In this episode, Dr. Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie  provides insig...

As an obesity medicine physician, the growing attention around weight-loss medications is exciting because these are tremendous tools to improve the health of individuals with obesity, and the world needs to know about them! But I also hear lots of confusion and objections to the medications. I hear many questions over and over, so I'm going to give you my expert answers to the top questions...

Weight loss is not just about shedding pounds; it's about setting ourselves up for long-term success.  When people lose a substantial amount of weight, they often experience a significant drop in metabolic rate. This means they have to consume a very low number of calories just to stay at their new weight—making for challenging maintenance. But there's good news: Building and maintaining...

When we embark on a weight loss journey, it's important to remember that different people's bodies have different ways of shedding fat. Sometimes those changes surprise us, like the "Ozempic face" effect where facial fat diminishes, revealing sharper chin and cheekbones. While it can be undesirable for some, let's not forget the bigger picture. True transformation comes fr...

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is crucial for overall well-being and reducing the risk of serious health issues. Episode #32 of my podcast features guest Dolapo Babalola, M.D., who sheds light on the importance of regular blood pressure checks—they're so easy and yield important information for health and well-being. Physicians can help to determine underlying causes and a manageable pl...

Treating obesity is so much more than just working out more and eating less. This is true for every age, from children on up. With the recent release of new guidelines on treating obesity in children, I asked Dr. Abby Bleistein to join us for today's episode to tackle the most controversial recommendations in the new guidelines—the use of medications and surgery for children with obesity. Dr....

Accepting reality is a common barrier to success in lifestyle changes, nutrition, exercise, and weight loss. Many individuals struggle with accepting the reality of their busy and stressful lives, constantly waiting for the "perfect" time to make positive health changes. Have big plans to implement exercise and meal planning "when things will settle down soon"? Overwhelmed with...

No shame in your sugar-loving game! That's because it's 100% normal to like sugar; our brains are programmed to like it because sugar was once rare. And sugar can actually be really important to human nutrition! It's fast nutrition we can store really well for later, so it makes sense for our bodies to like sugar and want to eat as much of it as we can. In the modern world, though,...

Yes, this is a real medical disorder. No, this is not just what happens when you and your girlfriends eat way too many chips and salsa and margaritas on a night out. Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurring episodes and the feeling of being out of control or distressed about the large amounts of food eaten in a short amount of time. In this episode of The Dr. Francavilla Show Podcast, I...

What if we changed our mindset so the number on the scale was simply informational and not an emotionally distressing commentary on how poorly we're doing at life? It's funny because there are lots of numbers in healthcare ... but I don't see people in my clinic feeling ashamed about a low potassium number! No one is beating themselves up when they learn their respiratory rate isn&a...

Lack of sleep has a negative effect on weight loss, so how can we make sure we're getting the sleep we need to support our health? Think back to childhood and re-adopt a bedtime routine. It doesn't have to include a story, bath, and lullaby (though it can!), but it does need to be something that signals to your brain and body to wind down for restful sleep. For the best results, stay awa...

In this episode, Dr. Matthea Rentea gives incredible perspective on emotional eating. She highlights the phases of emotional eating/overeating, and they are SPOT ON: Recognizing you've overeaten after the fact. Noticing you're in the process of overeating and telling yourself you shouldn't be doing that (but you keep doing it). Before you eat, you tell yourself not to overeat, but y...

Poop is a common topic in my office.  💩 I frequently hear from patients about changes in bowel movements after starting or changing medications, so I address that (and other FAQs!) in today's episode (#24) of The Dr. Francavilla Show Podcast. I go over the range of normal when it comes to bowel movements and what changes patients can make to be sure they're in that normal range. And for...

There is sooo much judgment around food. Can we just agree to drop that and focus our health goals on feeling well and fueling our bodies? If you have been operating under this assumption that carbohydrates are bad, but you find a moderate amount of oatmeal to really satisfy you and keep you full all morning, that doesn't seem bad to me! That's your experience with that food. Mindful eat...

Whether it's CrossFit or Peloton or kids' sports, coaches are a huge part of our lives. Regardless of their area of expertise, coaches all have something in common: They push us forward. They motivate us. They help us find our path to reach our goals in fitness, sports, or even life itself. If you're struggling with weight loss, consider looking for someone in the field of life coac...

It seems to be the same handful of things that keep my patients from achieving their health goals. There are 5 lies they're telling themselves that, if addressed, could really change the trajectory of their wellness! The first one is the "I'll start tomorrow" lie.  Or maybe it's next week or this summer or in the new year. Whenever it is, it's a false projection that...

Whether it's for you or for your patients, your questions about weight-loss medications have been so great. I dedicated today's whole podcast episode to answering them, and I can't wait for you to hear the answers and share with colleagues, friends, and family! The question I seem to answer all. the. time. is about Wegovy and its huge price tag. The excitement surrounding Wegovy wei...

Weight bias happens on playgrounds, when the child struggling with obesity is bullied. But it happens in subtle ways, too, and it even happens in our medical offices. Combatting this kind of bias takes education and advocacy, which is why I invited Dr. Leslie Golden to join me on today's Dr. Francavilla Show podcast episode. Dr. Golden is an obesity medicine physician with graduate-level trai...

**** Let’s eat better together. Save up to $65 off your first Daily Harvest box: https://bit.ly/3Caqqr4 **** When it comes to nutrition plans, exercise plans, or really just about anything in life, getting comfortable with the "gray zone" is important. Sure, the black-and-white, all-or-nothing mentality might make for some successes when it comes to diet or exercise (when you're all...