Episode 16

Obesity Myths, Medications, and the “Easy Way Out” Lie with Dr. Evan Nadler (Part 2)

Published on: 14th November, 2025

In Part 2 of Sacha’s powerful conversation with pediatric bariatric surgeon Dr. Evan Nadler, they tackle some of the most misunderstood areas of obesity care: GLP-1 medications, bariatric surgery, diet culture myths, and the harmful idea that treating obesity is “the easy way out.”

Dr. Nadler breaks down why medications and surgery aren’t shortcuts—they’re evidence-based interventions for a chronic disease. Together, they explore why willpower has nothing to do with long-term weight outcomes, how the body biologically defends weight, and why shame keeps so many people from getting the care they deserve.

If you’ve ever questioned your own journey—or felt judged for the tools you use—this episode will help you reclaim compassion, context, and solid scientific understanding.

🧭 In This Episode

  • Why GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro and bariatric surgery work together, not in competition
  • The biological reasons weight loss stalls, rebounds, or plateaus
  • Why “eat less, move more” is scientifically insufficient
  • What the hypothalamus does to defend your body’s set point
  • Why calling surgery or medication “the easy way out” is rooted in stigma, not science
  • How access to proper aftercare dramatically changes patient outcomes

🪞 Key Takeaways

  • There is nothing easy about surgery or GLP-1s — both require ongoing care and support.
  • The body defends weight aggressively; biology fights harder than willpower ever can.
  • Shame harms outcomes; compassion improves them.
  • Most people need multiple interventions over a lifetime — not one single fix.
  • Good care is more than a prescription or procedure; it’s monitoring, education, and support.

⚠️ Content Note

Includes discussion of medications (GLP-1s), bariatric surgery, weight stigma, shame, and chronic disease management. Mentions challenges with access to care and medical bias. Please listen with care and consult your provider for personal medical advice.

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Keywords

Dr Evan Nadler, obesity myths, GLP-1 medications, Mounjaro, bariatric surgery, weight stigma, set point theory, hypothalamus, pediatric obesity, chronic disease, weight loss plateau, biology of obesity, diet culture, Sacha Holder, Life in the Bari Lane

Next Time

🎧 In Part 3, Dr. Nadler dives deep into why childhood obesity is a biologically distinct disease, how early diabetes develops in kids, and what new research is revealing about fat-cell memory, trauma, and generational epigenetics. It’s the kind of clarity that changes everything.

👉 Make sure you’re subscribed to Life in the Bari Lane so you don’t miss our next ride.

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About the Podcast

Life in the Bari Lane
Come along for the ride — it's no fun going alone.
Life in the Bari Lane is your 30-minute dose of real talk about life after bariatric surgery — the good, the hard, the weird, and the “nobody warned me about this” moments. No fluff, no “just follow the plan” nonsense — just honest conversations about what it’s like to change your body, your habits, and your whole damn life.

This podcast is a space for the highs and lows of the weight loss journey. Because here’s the truth: bariatric surgery is a tool — not a magic fix. It’s still work. It’s still messy. And it’s still life — with a different GPS.

Whether you’re pre-op and researching, post-op and thriving, or somewhere in the “what the hell did I just do?” stage, you’re in the right lane. This show is about building community — the kind that gets it, supports you, and doesn’t sugarcoat the process.

I’m Sacha — a real-life bariatric patient navigating this wild ride — and I’m here to keep it honest, funny, and deeply human.

You’ll hear:
💥 Unfiltered talk about the hard days
🥗 Nutrition talk that’s actually realistic
🧠 Mental health, body image, and identity shifts
👯‍♀️ Support systems and “friendship fallout”
💪 Motivation that doesn’t suck
🙃 Oops moments, progress wins, and honest reflections

New episodes drop weekly — short enough to fit into your day, but packed with the good stuff to keep you going.

About your host

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Sacha Holder

Sacha Holder is a project manager, podcast host, and bariatric patient who’s not here to pretend it’s all perfect. With over a decade of professional experience and a whole lot of lived experience, she creates podcasts that tell the truth about what it means to live, heal, and grow — through chaos, and curveballs, while keeping it together (mostly).

She’s the voice behind Life in the Bari Lane, a bite-sized bariatric podcast for real people navigating post-op life, and The High-Functioning Disaster, a show about showing up even when everything feels like too much. Through humor, honesty, and zero judgment, Sacha builds community through conversation — because no one should have to figure it out alone.