Finally with Dr. Raina Patel

Raina Patel, DO
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Medicine
  • Biweekly

finally. is hosted by Dr. Raina Patel, a dual board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician. The show is designed to help listeners better understand their bodies. Each episode breaks down the science behind weight, metabolism, and hormones in a practical way! New episodes twice a week: finally, Women's Health on Mondays and finally, obesity medicine on Wednesdays. Instagram: @drrainapatel Youtube channel: @drrainapatel

  1. 2d ago

    Lipedema, finally explained with Dr. Minnie Cruz

    Lipedema affects a huge number of women, yet most have never heard the name. It often shows up as disproportionate, tender fat in the legs, hips, and sometimes arms that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise the way the rest of the body does. Many women spend years being told to eat less and move more before anyone recognizes what’s actually going on. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel, a physician board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, sits down with Dr. Minnie Cruz-Tolentino of My Wellness Physicians to break down what lipedema is and how it differs from obesity and lymphedema. They also cover how it’s diagnosed, what treatment looks like, and why health literacy matters so much for women trying to get answers. Dr. Cruz-Tolentino also shares her work with LiLy Collaborative and LiLy Socials. In this episode: What lipedema is and who it affectsHow lipedema differs from obesity and lymphedemaWhy it’s so often missed or misdiagnosedHow it’s diagnosed and treatedHealth literacy and advocating for yourselfLiLy Collaborative and LiLy Socials Connect with Dr. Minnie Cruz-Tolentino:Website: mywellnessphysicians.comInstagram and Facebook: @mywellnessphysicians Connect with Dr. Raina Patel:Instagram and YouTube: @drrainapatelEmail: rainapateldo@gmail.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

  2. 4d ago

    Mammograms and Dense Breasts: Finally, Women's Health

    Nearly half of women who get mammograms have dense breasts, and since September 2024 every mammography facility in the U.S. has to tell them. But what does that paragraph at the bottom of the report actually mean? For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Raina Patel, a board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician, walks through mammograms and dense breasts the way she would with a patient in clinic. In this episode, Dr. Patel explains what actually happens at a mammogram, how to prepare, the difference between 2D and 3D, and why a callback usually isn't cancer. She breaks down why the major medical organizations still disagree on when to start and how often to screen. She explains what breast density is, why dense tissue can hide cancer on a mammogram and also raise risk, and what supplemental options like ultrasound, MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography can and can't do. She also covers breast cancer risk assessment by age 25, why Black women face the highest breast cancer death rates, and the insurance gaps that still leave many women paying out of pocket. Topics: mammogram guidelines 2026, what to expect at a mammogram, 3D mammography,, dense breasts, BI-RADS density categories, FDA density notification, supplemental breast screening, breast MRI, breast ultrasound, and breast cancer risk assessment. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

    Mammograms and Dense Breasts: Finally, Women's Health

  3. Oct 21

    Weight, Stigma, and Your Mind with Dr. Robyn Pashby

    Obesity is a chronic disease, and living with it affects far more than physical health. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel, a physician board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, talks with Dr. Robyn Pashby, a clinical and medical psychologist, founder of Health Psychology Partners in Washington, DC, and The Obesity Society’s Practitioner of the Year. They discuss what weight bias and stigma really are, how they show up in healthcare and even among clinicians, and why the anticipation of judgment keeps many people from seeking care. Dr. Pashby explains what a health psychologist does on an obesity care team, why so few clinicians receive training in this area, and how to find mental health support. They also explore adverse childhood experiences, chronic weight stigma as a form of trauma, stress and coping, and the role of culture in mental health. The conversation closes with “food noise,” GLP-1 medications, and why screening for eating disorders matters before starting treatment. Follow Dr. Pashby on Instagram at @robynpashbyphd and learn more about the Obesity Action Coalition at obesityaction.org. Follow Dr. Raina Patel: Instagram: @drrainapatel Youtube: @drrainapatel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mVmg2ILXrnYDMklGnv6T0?si=59b15e4179b64f27 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finally-with-dr-raina-patel/id1896908922 This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

  4. Oct 19

    Ask a Breast Surgeon with Dr. Lucy De La Cruz

    For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, Chief of the Breast Surgery Program and Director of the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Together they answer the questions women ask most about their breasts: when to start mammograms, what dense breasts really mean, which lumps and changes are usually benign, and what happens when something does need a closer look. Dr. De La Cruz, who specializes in nipple-sparing mastectomy and the hidden scar technique, also breaks down the different types of breast surgery, including lumpectomy and mastectomy, and explains how surgeons and patients decide which option is right. It’s a clear, reassuring conversation for anyone who has ever felt a lump, gotten a callback, or is facing a surgical decision. Resources mentioned: Free or low-cost mammograms (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cervical-cancer-screening/about/screenings.htmlDense breast information: https://densebreast-info.orgHereditary breast cancer support (FORCE): https://www.facingourrisk.orgFind a genetic counselor: https://findageneticcounselor.nsgc.orgSusan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline: 1-877-465-6636Living Beyond Breast Cancer: https://www.lbbc.orgDr. Lucy De La Cruz at MedStar Georgetown: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors/lucy-maria-de-la-cruz-mdFollow Dr. De La Cruz on Instagram @girly_surgeon. Follow Dr. Raina Patel @drrainapatel. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please talk with your own physician about your health.

    Ask a Breast Surgeon with Dr. Lucy De La Cruz

  5. Oct 14

    Retatrutide Explained: The “Triple G” Shot Everyone’s Talking About

    A new once-weekly injection called retatrutide just posted the strongest weight loss results ever seen from a single medication. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel, a physician board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, breaks down the TRIUMPH-1 trial, newly published in the New England Journal of Medicine. She explains how retatrutide works on three hormone pathways (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon), what the trial found for weight, knee osteoarthritis pain, sleep apnea, blood pressure, cholesterol, and prediabetes, and which side effects deserve attention, including a skin sensation called dysesthesia and dizziness in people on blood pressure medications. She also covers when retatrutide might reach the market, why the researchers are rethinking "maximum dose" in favor of treating to a target, and why buying retatrutide online is a risk not worth taking. In this episode Why glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, belongs in a weight loss medication 25% average weight loss at 80 weeks and about 30% at two years on the highest dose One in five people losing more than a third of their body weight Knee pain down about 60% and sleep apnea events down by more than half Nine in ten people with prediabetes returning to normal blood sugar Side effects: GI effects, dysesthesia, low blood pressure, heart rate, UTIs The case for the lowest effective dose and treating to a target FDA timeline and the gray-market warning Reference Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Davies MJ, et al. Retatrutide, a Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist, for Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. Published September 29, 2026. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2604169. This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please talk with your own physician before making changes to your health.

  6. Oct 12

    Is It Hormones or Is It Me? Mood, Anxiety, and the Menopause Transition with Dr. Agnes Simone

    New anxiety in your 40s. Rage that seems to come out of nowhere. Low mood, brain fog, and sleep that falls apart. For many women, these changes show up years before the last period, and too often they get dismissed as stress or "just getting older." In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Agnes Simone, a UCLA-trained, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Olea Women's Health, a Los Angeles practice that combines integrative psychiatry with hormone therapy for women in midlife. Together they explore how shifting estrogen and progesterone affect the brain, why perimenopause is a window of higher risk for depression and anxiety, and how to tell hormone-driven symptoms apart from other mental health conditions. They also cover: - Who is most at risk for mood changes during the menopause transition - Where hormone therapy fits, and where antidepressants and therapy fit - Why a history of PMS, PMDD, or postpartum depression matters - What to say to your doctor so your symptoms are taken seriously If you have ever wondered whether it is your hormones or something more, this conversation is for you. Resources mentioned: CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) therapists in Los Angeles: Julie Ursic: https://www.julieursic.com/Caroline Jennings: https://cbti.directory/search-for-a-clinician/home-directory/usa/united-states-cbti-providers/498-caroline-jenningsDr. McGowan: https://www.drskmcgowan.com/ CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) in Southern California: Dr. Flora Zaken-Greenberg, Cognitive Behavior Associates: https://www.cognitivebehaviorassociates.com/dr-flora-zaken-greenberg/CBT SoCal: https://cbtsocal.com/TherapyLab.com Connect with Dr. Agnes Simone Instagram: @dr.agnesksimone and @oleawomenshealth Connect with Dr. Raina Patel Instagram and YouTube: @drrainapatel Email: rainapateldo@gmail.com New episodes every Monday (Finally, Women's Health) and Wednesday (Obesity Medicine). If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own doctor or health care provider before making any changes to your health, medications, or treatments.

    Is It Hormones or Is It Me? Mood, Anxiety, and the Menopause Transition with Dr. Agnes Simone

  7. Oct 7

    Protein, Creatine, and Your Kidneys: What's Actually Safe with Dr. Ritu Vyas

    Is a high-protein diet hard on your kidneys? Should you stop taking creatine if your labs look off? In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with nephrologist and obesity medicine physician Dr. Ritu Vyas to answer the kidney questions so many people are asking right now. They cover what chronic kidney disease (CKD) actually is and how it's diagnosed, why so many people don't know they have early kidney disease, how much protein is safe and helpful depending on your kidney function, and why protein targets matter even more for people losing weight on GLP-1 medications. They also clear up the confusion around creatine supplements, including why creatine can raise your creatinine on a lab report without meaning your kidneys are damaged. Dr. Ritu Vyas is board certified in nephrology, internal medicine, and obesity medicine. She is the owner of Kidney MD, an independent, physician-led outpatient nephrology practice in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on early CKD care for patients with metabolic conditions like obesity. She is one of few nephrologists who bring together kidney care, obesity medicine, and a food-as-medicine approach, and she believes small changes, including dietary ones, can go a long way in protecting your kidneys. Connect with Dr. Vyas:Website: KidneyMD.netInstagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @KidneyMDLLC Follow Dr. Raina Patel on Instagram and YouTube: @drrainapatel This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

    Protein, Creatine, and Your Kidneys: What's Actually Safe with Dr. Ritu Vyas

  8. Oct 5

    From Pregnancy to Menopause: The Weight and Hormone Story with Dr. Lindsay Maggio

    Most women see one doctor for pregnancy and a different one for menopause, and nobody connects the dots in between. In this episode, Dr. Raina Patel sits down with Dr. Lindsay Maggio, a quadruple board-certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine, and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. Together they trace the weight and hormone story across a woman's life: what obesity means for pregnancy risk, what women on GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) should know before trying to conceive, and why a history of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes still matters decades later. They also cover postpartum weight, the menopause transition, and where hormone therapy and GLP-1s fit in midlife. Dr. Maggio is the founder of a direct specialty care practice focused on weight management, hormonal health, and midlife wellness. Follow her on Instagram at @lindsay_maggio_md. Website: www.lindsaymaggiomd.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/lindsay_maggio_md/100090209708288/ and https://www.facebook.com/p/Highriskpregnancydoc-61592826369389/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioptimizeweightandwellness/ This podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your own physician before making changes to your health.

    From Pregnancy to Menopause: The Weight and Hormone Story with Dr. Lindsay Maggio
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finally. is hosted by Dr. Raina Patel, a dual board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician. The show is designed to help listeners better understand their bodies. Each episode breaks down the science behind weight, metabolism, and hormones in a practical way! New episodes twice a week: finally, Women's Health on Mondays and finally, obesity medicine on Wednesdays. Instagram: @drrainapatel Youtube channel: @drrainapatel

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