Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD 119. Dr. Rocio Salas Whalen: How To Lose Weight On GLP-1s Without Losing Muscle
Dec 9, 2025
Dr. Rocio Salas Whalen, a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity-medicine expert, discusses the transformative power of GLP-1 therapies in weight management. She highlights why traditional advice like 'eat less, exercise more' has fallen short, examining obesity's complex drivers, including genetics and environment. With a focus on preventing muscle loss, she emphasizes the importance of protein intake and strength training alongside GLP-1s. The conversation also explores GLP-1's effects on inflammation, brain health, and sustainable weight loss.
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GLP-1 Is A Broad-Acting Natural Hormone
- GLP-1 is a natural hormone made in the gut and brain with wide receptors across the body.
- Engineered, long-acting GLP-1s target pancreas, gut, and brain to lower glucose and change appetite reward.
Parental Weight Alters Offspring Epigenetics
- Weight and metabolic health before conception influence offspring epigenetics and future obesity risk.
- Treating parental obesity now can help break transgenerational obesity cycles.
GLP-1 Changes Appetite And Food Reward
- GLP-1 raises satiety and suppresses hunger hormones while blocking food-reward signaling in the brain.
- Patients feel full on much smaller portions and lose cravings for sugary, salty, fried foods.
