Decoding Women's Health with Dr. Elizabeth Poynor Decoding GLP-1s and Metabolism with Dr. Beverly Tchang
12 snips
Nov 18, 2025 
Dr. Beverly Tchang, a triple board-certified endocrinologist, dives into the complexities of midlife metabolism and the role of GLP-1 weight management therapies for women. She explains why body changes can occur despite a healthy lifestyle and how obesity intersects with menopause. Tchang discusses the limitations of BMI as a measure and introduces better methods for assessing body composition. She clarifies how GLP-1s promote satiety and their expected impacts on weight loss, alongside essential lifestyle changes to support muscle health.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Midlife Shape-Shifting Is About Body Composition
- Metabolism changes in midlife shift body composition more than total weight gain.
- Perimenopause accelerates fat gain and muscle loss even if total weight gain looks typical for aging.
Prefer Waist-To-Height Over BMI
- Use waist-to-height ratio rather than BMI to assess metabolic risk; aim for less than 0.5.
- Ask your clinician for body composition testing like DEXA or bioelectrical impedance when concerned.
Insulin Resistance Drives Visceral Fat
- Insulin resistance often rises during perimenopause and promotes visceral fat storage.
- Treating insulin resistance can improve fat distribution and other metabolic outcomes.