Optimizing Weight Loss: The Role of Functional Medicine and GLP-1 Medications with Dr. Latisa Carson

Conversations for Health

Latisa S. Carson, M.D. is a board-certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a medical weight loss specialist and is board-certified in Obesity Medicine and is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association. She is the only female African American obstetrician-gynecologist in solo private practice in San Diego County. Her residency training was completed at Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois and her internship year was spent at King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Carson is a University of Kansas School of Medicine graduate, from Kansas City, Kansas. She has a special interest in helping her community achieve a healthier weight and active lifestyle and offers physicians supervised, medically supported weight loss programs that include nutrition, behavior management, weight loss medication, and exercise guidance.

Together Dr. Carson and I dive into all things weight loss from GLP-1 receptors to the incredibly popular Ozempic and semaglutide compounded medicines. Dr. Carson shares her experience with using GLP-1 receptor antagonists with her patients and offers her wisdom regarding the pillars of health that must be supported by practitioners to optimize lasting patient success. She highlights both the negative and positive side effects associated with weight loss medicines, offers guidelines for effectively tapering off medication, and shares insights into the slow but steady functional medicine changes that are coming into traditional medicine. Her advice is both encouraging and pragmatic, and our conversation is filled with insights for any practitioner who is interested in successfully incorporating today’s hottest weight loss medications into their practice.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Chapters:

[3:18] Dr. Carson recalls her mother’s experience as a nurse, her own introduction to weight loss medicine, and her initial connection with Designs for Health.

[7:20] Defining GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor agonists and the role of drugs including Ozempic and dual agonist drugs such as Terzepitide in obesity management.

[10:30] Key differences between brand names and semaglutide compounded medicines, as well as injected versus oral medicines.

[14:10] Semaglutide success rates, adherence rates, and average weight loss goal timelines.

[15:15] Dr. Carson’s individualized approach to dosing and titration at every stage of a weight loss journey.

[21:30] Dr. Carson’s comprehensive support program includes weekly visits, medicines, diet plans, and frequent patient engagement.

[25:35] Muscle mass loss and management of other extreme side effects and complications from these medications.

[33:42] Dr. Carson’s experience with favorable side effects in managing other addictions with these medicines.

[36:14] Guidelines for tapering off medication and successfully keeping the weight off.

[39:00] Addressing the mindset of a patient and past trauma in ways that will be most helpful.

[43:25] Dr. Carson shares her desire to integrate functional medicine into her traditional medicine OB practice earlier in her career.

[45:35] Detox pathways are a critical first step to weight loss.

[51:23] Dr. Carson shares what she has changed her mind about over the course of her career, her personal favorite supplements, and her favorite health practices.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Latisa Carson https://www.uniquelyfitmedicalweightloss.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Nutrition Blog: Muscle Tone Matters: The Key to Optimal Body Composition and Metabolic Health - https://www.casi.org/muscle-tone-matters-key-optimal-body-composition-metabolic-health

Nutrition Blog: The Hidden Effects: Medications and Their Impact on Your GI Tract - https://www.casi.org/medications-and-their-impact-on-gi-tract

Research Blog: Influence of Probiotics on Weight Management in Obesity - https://www.casi.org/node/1557

Research Blog: The Stomach-Brain Axis: Hunger’s Not All in the Mind - https://www.casi.org/node/971

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https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education