In this episode of the Fab Female Nutrition Podcast, Wendy asks a question that's been increasingly bothering her: when did being skinny become the goal again?
The rise of GLP-1 medications and weight loss injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro has transformed the conversation around weight. These medications can have an important role in treating obesity and improving health, but what happens when a medical treatment starts influencing beauty standards and everyday weight-loss culture?
Wendy looks at the growing use of weight loss medication in the UK, particularly amongst women, and asks whether we're beginning to lose some of the progress we've made towards celebrating strength, muscle and what our bodies can actually do.
She also explores why weight alone is a poor measure of health, the importance of maintaining skeletal muscle as we age, and why women in midlife should be thinking about strength, metabolic health, bone health and healthy ageing — not simply becoming smaller.
And then there's food.
Have we become so focused on reducing appetite and eliminating "food noise" that we're in danger of forgetting the joy of eating? Wendy shares why shopping for beautiful ingredients, cooking for someone you love, sharing a long meal with friends and genuinely enjoying good food can all be part of looking after your health.
In this episode:
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Why Wendy is concerned about the return of "skinny culture"
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GLP-1 and weight loss injection use amongst UK women
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Why this isn't an anti-GLP-1 conversation
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The difference between weight loss and improved health
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Why muscle and strength matter, particularly in midlife
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What "food noise" actually means
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Why thinking about food isn't necessarily a bad thing
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Rediscovering food, cooking and eating as acts of self-care
This is the first episode in Wendy's Food Noise series.
Next week, she'll take a closer look at the science behind GLP-1 medications: how they work, their potential health benefits and side effects, and the much bigger question — should obesity be considered a disease?
Sponsored by Revive Active. Listeners can use code WENDY15 for 15% off.