Welcome to another episode of Flip Your Script, a vodcast by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, hosted by ACLM President Dr. Padmaja Patel. In each episode, we explore five key takeaways on how lifestyle medicine is helping clinicians and leaders reimagine the future of healthcare. This episode, “Beyond the Prescription: GLP-1s and Lifestyle Medicine,” features Kate Cohen, a registered dietitian nutritionist with the Lifestyle Medicine Program at Hospital for Special Surgery, and Dr. Prasanthi Tondapu, a triple board-certified endocrinologist and lifestyle medicine specialist and founder and CEO of DFW Endocrinology. They share their perspectives on integrating obesity medications, including GLP-1 medications, with comprehensive lifestyle medicine care. The conversation explores why GLP-1 medications should be viewed as one tool within a broader obesity treatment plan—not a standalone solution—and why lifestyle medicine remains the foundation of sustainable care. They discuss the importance of patient education and support, addressing barriers and social determinants of health, setting realistic expectations, and helping patients build lasting habits around nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management. Kate also shares practical nutrition strategies for patients taking obesity medications, including prioritizing nutrient-dense foods and protein, managing reduced appetite and gastrointestinal side effects, and incorporating resistance training to help maintain muscle mass. Dr. Prasanthi discusses the importance of early follow-up, individualized care, hydration, side-effect management, and meeting patients where they are. If you're interested in lifestyle medicine, GLP-1 medications, obesity treatment, nutrition, chronic disease management, weight management, patient-centered care, behavior change, muscle preservation, resistance training, shared medical appointments, or whole-person care, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Learn more about ACLM's LEADR Program: https://connect.lifestylemedicine.org/leadrcurriculum/home Download the "Obesity Medications and Lifestyle Medicine" Toolkit: https://lifestylemedicine.org/clinical-toolkits/ Subscribe to ACLM on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsjJsNjWtUf30LiofumGRfQ The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is the medical professional society for physicians and other professionals dedicated to clinical and worksite practice of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable healthcare system. Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse such conditions. Applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections—also provides effective prevention for these conditions. Connect with ACLM Online! Visit lifestylemedicine.org: https://lifestylemedicine.org/ Find ACLM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifestylemed/ Find ACLM on X: https://x.com/ACLifeMed Find ACLM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aclifemed/?hl=en Find ACLM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-college-of-lifestyle-medicine/
