The Dr. Francavilla Show

Dr. Francavilla
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Carolynn Francavilla, MD is Board Certified in Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She owns and operates Green Mountain Partners for Health and Colorado Weight Care. Dr. Francavilla is a nationally recognized obesity expert, lecturing on the topic obesity as well as through her own platform HelpYourPatientsLoseWeight.com. She serves on the Obesity Medicine Association Board of Trustees. She is an Assistant Professor at Rocky Vista University and Volunteer Faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is passionate about helping people lose weight to treat and prevent medical problems. Dr. Francavilla has learned that losing weight and keeping it off is complex and not a matter of will power, but biology, and seeks to help others finds healthy longterm solutions to their weight.

  1. 5D AGO

    Peptides: Concerns and Challenges with Dr. Michael Albert

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) What if something being talked about as “cutting-edge” in health spaces… isn’t actually well understood yet? I’m excited to talk about a topic that keeps coming up everywhere right now — peptides. They’re being discussed in clinics, online forums, and social media feeds, often with a mix of confidence and confusion. The problem is, the conversation has gotten so loud that it’s hard to separate what’s actually known from what’s just being repeated. So instead of trying to cover this alone, I wanted to bring in someone who can help ground it in real clinical experience and science. Joining the conversation is Dr. Michael Albert. He’s a board-certified internal medicine physician and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He trained at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he served as a Kenmar Fellow and faculty member, and he went on to found the medical weight management program at the Weight Loss Center. He currently serves as a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and is the co-founder and chief medical officer of Accomplish Health, a nationwide telehealth practice focused on comprehensive obesity medicine and medical bariatrics. His work is centered on translating medical evidence into practical, patient-centered care and improving how conversations around obesity are handled in clinical settings. Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Albert is also widely known for his educational content online, where he shares clear, science-based explanations to an audience of more than 300,000 people across platforms. So with that context in place, we’re breaking down peptides — what they actually are, what the science says, and where the gaps still are. Topics covered in this episode: • What peptides actually are (explained simply) • Why people are starting to trust new, unproven treatments over well-studied ones • Why there’s so little reliable human data on popular peptides right now • What “FDA categories” for peptides really mean (and what they don’t mean) • Why some peptides can affect more than one system in the body (and why that matters) • Whether it ever makes sense to use peptides in real-world medical situations • The real research history behind BPC-157 and why it keeps coming up If you want the full breakdown and the reasoning behind each of these points, check out the full episode where we go deeper into how peptides actually work in the body, what the current evidence really shows, and where the biggest gaps in understanding still are. Connect with Dr. Albert: Instagram: michaelalbertmdWebsite: Michael Albert, MDTiktok: www.accomplish.healthYoutube: Michael Albert MDLinkedIn: Michael Albert MDBsky: Michael “Mike” Albert MDConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla Sh

    49 min

  2. APR 20

    Bariatric Surgery, Wegovy/Zepbound or both? With Dr. Jessica Cutler

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Have you ever wondered if weight loss surgery and medication are actually better together — or if choosing one means giving up the other? That question sits at the center of one of the most important — and honestly most misunderstood — conversations happening in metabolic health right now. Most people approach weight loss like it's a multiple choice test: pick surgery, pick medication, pick diet and exercise, and stick with your answer. But the reality is so much more nuanced than that, and the patients who tend to do best are almost never the ones who commit to a single path. Dr. Jessica Cutler is the kind of clinician who genuinely gets that. As both a bariatric surgeon and an obesity medicine specialist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, she works on both sides of this care in a way that's pretty uncommon — and incredibly valuable for her patients. She completed her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh, her general surgery residency at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey, and went on to fellowship training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery at Albany Medical Center in New York. That combination of surgical expertise and medical management in one provider is exactly why she's here — because this conversation needed someone who sees the full picture, not just one piece of it. In this episode: Clearing Up the Misconceptions About Bariatric SurgeryYou Might Qualify for Bariatric Surgery — And Not Even Know ItBariatric Surgery and Type 2 Diabetes: There's Way More to This Story Than Weight LossGLP-1s Changed Everything — Here's How Good Bariatric Care AdaptedThe Best of Both Worlds: Why Surgery and Medication Work Better TogetherWhat Bariatric Surgery Can — and Can't — Do for YouThe Gut Feeling We Can't Ignore: Bariatric Surgery and Your MicrobiomeThe Future of Weight Loss Medicine Is Closer Than You Think — But the Body Is Still Surprising UsAnd if this conversation snippet shifted how weight loss is usually seen — or made things feel a bit clearer — there’s a lot more in the full episode. Go give it a listen for the complete discussion and all the details. Connect with Dr. Jessica: Instagram: mercybariatricsWebsite: mdmercy.comConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    29 min

  3. APR 13

    Healthy Eating and Weight on a Budget With Dr. Mollie Cecil and Emily Shreve

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.c What does it really look like to make healthy choices for your weight and overall health when money is tight, resources are limited, and access to care isn’t always equal? This conversation focuses on how to support nutrition, movement, and medical care in a way that actually fits real life—especially when working within a budget. Joining the discussion are two incredible health advocates. First is Dr. Mollie Cecil, a family physician and obesity medicine specialist based in West Virginia. Through both her clinical work and personal experience, she’s seen how these challenges show up in underserved communities. Her work focuses on making obesity care more accessible, regardless of income, location, or insurance. Second joining is Emily Shreve, a registered dietitian working in medical weight management and family medicine. Her background includes diabetes care and patient education, and her focus is on turning evidence-based nutrition into guidance that people can realistically follow in their day-to-day lives. In this episode, the conversation centers on: *Eating well on a budget and navigating food insecurity *How food preparation impacts nutrition *Simple ways to stretch nutrition further without overspending *Staying active without needing a gym *Access to weight loss medications, including real-world options and tradeoffs *What it looks like to address food insecurity in everyday life Together, they share a grounded look at what sustainable health choices can actually look like when resources are limited. To understand how these pieces come together, listen to the full episode. Connect with Emily: LinkedIn: Emily SConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    36 min

  4. APR 6

    GLP-1 Advice with Obesity Medicine Trailblazer Dr. Ken Fujioka

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) What if the real breakthrough in weight loss isn’t just the medication—but how it’s actually used day to day? This week’s conversation features Dr. Ken Fujioka, a longtime leader in obesity medicine who has helped shape the field from its early days to where it is now. As Director of Nutrition and Metabolic Research and Obesity Telemedicine at Scripps Clinic, with over 150 clinical trials and 125+ published studies, his perspective brings both depth and real-world clarity to the GLP-1 conversation. We talk about how medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have changed obesity care—making meaningful weight loss more achievable while improving overall health. But just as important, we get into the realities behind the trend: the risks of improper use, the rise of unregulated access, and why proper medical guidance still matters. Here’s what we cover: How GLP-1 medications are transforming weight loss and metabolic healthThe risks of getting these medications from untrained or non-medical sourcesWhy dosing should be slow, steady, and individualizedWhat “non-linear” weight loss actually looks like in real lifeHow to pair the medication with nutrition, protein, and smarter food choicesThe role of strength training in protecting muscle and boneWhy supplements like calcium and fiber may be neededHow food tracking can be used as a tool for awareness—not restrictionIf you want a clearer, more grounded understanding of how GLP-1s are really being used in clinical practice today, the full episode with Dr. Ken Fujioka goes much deeper into all of this. Connect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    29 min

  5. MAR 30

    GLP-1 Meals Made Easy with Dr. Aliza Olive

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Why do so many people on GLP-1 medications feel like they’re doing everything right but still feel lost when it comes to food and long-term success? This week, we’re diving into something many people on GLP-1 medications are navigating right now: how to build sustainable nutrition habits during treatment, and what it actually takes to set yourself up for long-term success—both while on the medication and beyond. We’re joined by Dr. Aliza Olive, a pediatric ICU physician, mom based in Cleveland, and co-founder of GLP-1 Enhanced, a company focused on providing practical, real-world nutrition guidance for people on GLP-1 medications and those transitioning off them. She’s also the author of GLP-1 Meals Made Easy, a cookbook designed to simplify eating and remove the guesswork during treatment. In this conversation, Dr. Olive shares insights from both clinical experience and real-world practice, highlighting the most common challenges people face—not just with weight loss itself, but with maintaining progress, managing side effects, and feeling confident in their everyday nutrition decisions. We also break down practical strategies that matter most on GLP-1s, including protein for muscle preservation, fiber for digestion and constipation support, and simple meal structure that actually works in real life. The discussion also touches on what long-term maintenance requires and why support during treatment matters just as much as after. Topics covered in this episode: What Happens After GLP-1 Medications: Why Guidance Still MattersWhat Makes the Transition Off GLP-1s So UncertainWhy Hunger Feels Different After GLP-1 TreatmentProtecting Muscle During Weight Loss: The Role of ProteinFiber on GLP-1s: The Simple Habit That Helps with Constipation and Keeps Digestion on TrackGLP-1 Meals Made Easy: What’s Inside the Book and Why It Was CreatedFor the full discussion and a more in-depth look at what it really takes to build sustainable habits on GLP-1s, tune in to GLP-1 Meals Made Easy with Dr. Aliza Olive. Connect with  Dr. Aliza : Website: GLP1 EnhancedInstagram: glp1enhancedTiktok: glp1enhancedFacebook: GLP1ENHANCEDConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    24 min

  6. MAR 25

    3 Quick Ways to Reduce Stress with Dr. Anissa Cordova

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Have you ever wondered why stress can feel so overwhelming even when nothing “major” is happening—and why the exact same situation can feel energizing for one person and totally draining for another? Stress is something that shows up in everyone’s life, literally every single day, but the way we understand and respond to it can completely change how it actually feels in the body and mind. In this episode, we look at stress not just as an external pressure, but more as a nervous system response—something shaped by perception, emotion, energy, and capacity. To help unpack all of this, we’re joined by Dr. Anissa Cordova, PhD, a psychotherapist and resilience coach specializing in stress regulation and emotional wellbeing. She’s been a colleague in our clinic for the past year, and her work beautifully weaves together health psychology, HeartMath research, and nearly 30 years of meditation practice. Dr. Cordova’s approach centers on something really important—but often overlooked—the heart–brain connection, and how it influences resilience, clarity, and emotional regulation. And honestly, what makes her perspective so valuable is that it’s not just theoretical. It’s super practical, deeply compassionate, and focused on tools people can actually use in everyday life. In this episode, we explore: Stress: Understanding How the Nervous System RespondsResilience: Building Capacity and RecoveryHow to Stabilize Your Nervous System and Manage Stress in Everyday LifeSimple Daily Practices to Support Your Nervous System and Stay GroundedWhy Managing Your Energy Matters More Than Avoiding StressShe shares simple, grounded tools to help you understand stress and calm your nervous system in real time—because while stress is universal, how you respond to it can change how life feels from the inside out. If this resonates, keep listening to hear the full conversation and start applying these tools right away. Connect with  Dr. Anissa : Website: anissacordovaphd.comConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    34 min

  7. MAR 16

    The Four Hunger Cues with Dr. Laure DeMattia

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Ever wonder why you literally can’t stop thinking about food? For a long time, weight management advice was basically “eat less, move more.” But honestly, it’s way more complicated than just willpower. Biology, hormones, metabolism, and your brain all totally play a role in why we eat and how our bodies handle weight. Family physician and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Laure DeMattia has decades of experience, both in the clinic and with her own weight journey. She’s also the author of The Four Food Cues: Why Your Brain Won’t Shut Up About Food and How to Fix It, which dives into the biological and behavioral signals that influence our eating habits—basically, why our brains are always nudging us toward snacks. Dr. DeMattia breaks down how understanding food cues, using frameworks like CHEF—Cravings, Hunger, Energy, Fullness—and knowing the role of medications like GLP-1s can make weight management way more doable, compassionate, and honestly less stressful. In This Episode, We Cover: Why This Book Was Written – The story behind Dr. Demattia’s book and why sharing real, science-based info is so needed right now.Why Food Is Always on Your Mind – Cravings, energy dips, delayed fullness… why your brain is basically obsessed with snacks.From Cravings to Fullness – Using the CHEF framework to notice your body’s signals without obsessing over every single calorie.Why Taking Care of Yourself Matters for Your Kids – Little self-care habits actually teach your kids that looking after yourself is normal.GLP-1s: Amazing for Some, Not Everyone – Medications that help curb hunger, but not a one-size-fits-all thing.Shifting the Goal: From Thinness to Health – Forget chasing the scale—focus on strength, energy, and just feeling good in your body.Understanding your food cues and all your options is about curiosity over blame, and science over shame. Whether it’s using CHEF, trying GLP-1s, or exploring other approaches, Dr. DeMattia gives patients ways to approach weight management that actually fit real life. Want all the deets and full insights? The conversation is totally laid out in the episode. Connect with Laure: Book: The 4 Food Cues: Why Your Brain Won't Shut Up About Food and How to Fix ItYoutube: Navigating Obesity with Dr. DConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    28 min

  8. MAR 9

    Sleep Apnea and Zebpound, Insomnia, and Restless Legs with Dr. Usama

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Curious how sleep and weight might be more connected than you think? Not long ago, obesity wasn’t widely recognized as a medical condition. Treatments were limited, and many people assumed weight loss was all about willpower. But (thankfully!) research has shifted that understanding: obesity is a complex disease shaped by biology, environment, hormones, and metabolism. In this episode, sleep medicine specialist Dr. Usama discusses the connection between sleep, metabolic health, and obesity. Dr. Usama is triple board-certified in sleep and obesity medicine and practices with MultiCare Health System in the Seattle area. He also serves as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine and as visiting foreign faculty at King Edward Medical University in Lahore. His work focuses on sleep apnea, obesity, and cardiometabolic health—conditions that often overlap. In this episode, we talk about how sleep, weight, and metabolic health are deeply connected—and why treating them together can make a real difference. In This Episode, We Cover: Zepbound and Sleep Apnea – Why weight loss alone isn’t enough, but Zepbound may help reduce apnea severity and improve adherence to CPAP therapy.How Zepbound Works Beyond Weight Loss – Potential effects on airway dynamics, brainstem breathing centers, metabolism, and even cravings.Why Treating Sleep Apnea Matters – Untreated sleep apnea affects your heart, brain, weight management, and long-term health. Combining therapies provides better outcomes than relying on one approach.Sleep Isn’t Optional – Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories, your muscles repair, and your metabolism resets. Learn strategies to reclaim restorative sleep, including CBT-I and practical sleep hygiene tips.Legs That Won’t Quit: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) – Understand the signs, causes, and effective treatments including iron therapy, medications, and nerve stimulation technology.Improving sleep, weight, and metabolic health isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment. When your daily habits support sleep, metabolism, brain function, and long-term health, the body responds in powerful ways. Even small, intentional changes can create momentum and meaningful results. Connect with Usama: LinkedIn: M. Usama, MD FACP DiplABOMSubstack: The Sleep Physician’s PlaybookFacebook: SleepwarriormdInstagram: usama_amanX: SleepwarriormdXConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    40 min
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About

Carolynn Francavilla, MD is Board Certified in Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She owns and operates Green Mountain Partners for Health and Colorado Weight Care. Dr. Francavilla is a nationally recognized obesity expert, lecturing on the topic obesity as well as through her own platform HelpYourPatientsLoseWeight.com. She serves on the Obesity Medicine Association Board of Trustees. She is an Assistant Professor at Rocky Vista University and Volunteer Faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is passionate about helping people lose weight to treat and prevent medical problems. Dr. Francavilla has learned that losing weight and keeping it off is complex and not a matter of will power, but biology, and seeks to help others finds healthy longterm solutions to their weight.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Francavilla
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Dr. Francavilla Show
  • Show Website
    The Dr. Francavilla Show

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