Dr Nick Dunn is joined by Dr Sally Richardson, a GP who runs a weight management clinic in Guernsey, to explore how our understanding of obesity has changed, and why it matters for patients.

Around 57% of adults in Guernsey are overweight or obese, and the World Health Organization now classifies obesity as a disease in its own right. Nick and Sally discuss how this shift is changing the way obesity is viewed and talked about, moving away from ideas of willpower and blame towards a better understanding of the biology behind it.

Sally explains the science behind why some people struggle to keep weight off even with a good diet and active lifestyle, and discusses what's now widely known as "food noise". She also talks candidly about prescribing weight loss medications, including who they're suitable for and the side effects patients should know about.

Nick draws on his own interest in sports medicine, and they discuss why protecting muscle mass matters during weight loss and what patients can do about it. The conversation also touches on the shame many patients feel after years of trying to lose weight, and how GPs can raise the subject sensitively.

Sally shares a bit of her own story too. She explains how, growing up in a family of doctors, medicine felt like an obvious choice, and talks about her path from A&E training to working as a registrar in the British Virgin Islands – including covering some of the private islands. She then talks about what brought her to Guernsey, and why the island's close-knit, continuity-based general practice suits her so well after the faster pace of working in London.

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If you’ve been struggling with your weight, or any of the topics discussed in this episode resonated with you, speak to your GP. They can talk through your concerns and discuss the support and treatment options that may be right for you.

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