The Dr. Francavilla Show

Dr. Francavilla

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. 3d ago

    Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo Coverage for Medicare Patients with the Bridge Program

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) What if Medicare finally made GLP-1 medications for weight management more affordable — could this be the moment that changes access for millions of people? Today, we're talking about something that's been years in the making in the world of obesity care: the expanded coverage of anti-obesity medications for patients on Medicare. Starting July 1st, eligible Medicare beneficiaries have a real opportunity to access GLP-1 receptor agonist medications at a much more affordable monthly cost through a new federal program — and for many patients, this could mark a major shift in access to treatment that's historically been limited or completely out of reach under Medicare's coverage rules. This change didn't happen overnight. It comes after years of advocacy, policy discussions, and ongoing efforts to get obesity recognized as a chronic medical condition that deserves treatment just like any other disease. In this episode, we break down where this program came from, how it connects to the bigger picture of obesity care, who it applies to, and everything you need to know about eligibility, covered medications, and how the process actually plays out in real life. Topics discussed: How the Bridge Program Could Expand Access to Obesity MedicationsFor the First Time, Medicare Is Opening the Door to Obesity MedicationsThe BMI and Health Condition CriteriaWhy the Reason for Your Prescription Matters Just as MuchThe Details That Make a Real Difference — Prior BMI and Lifestyle SupportThe List of Weight Loss Medications Covered by the Bridge ProgramWant the full breakdown? This episode covers all the details on eligibility, covered medications, and what this program could mean for you or someone you love navigating Medicare and obesity treatment. Find it wherever you get your podcasts — and if it helps, share it with someone who might need to hear it too. Resources mentioned in this episode: GLP-1 Prescribers Guide — CMSMedicare GLP-1 Bridge Program Details — CMS Connect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    24 min
  2. Jun 15

    Custom GLP1 Dosing With Dr. Ian Justl Ellis of Voafit

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) What if the reason so many people struggle on GLP-1 medications isn’t the medication itself — but the way it’s being dosed? Today we’re diving into something that could genuinely change the way you think about GLP-1 therapy: custom dosing. And there is honestly no one better to talk about this with than Dr. Ian Justl Ellis. Dr. Ian is a board-certified physician, certified personal fitness instructor, and the creator of the MyLevel GLP-1 Precision Dosing Engine. He’s also the founder and CEO of VOA Fit, where he provides highly personalized concierge care through advanced GLP-1 therapy, hormone optimization, and peptide protocols — all paired with real-world fitness and nutrition strategies. Before transitioning into obesity medicine, he spent a decade in emergency medicine. What makes his perspective especially valuable is how he bridges clinical expertise with lived experience in weight management. His work doesn’t just focus on prescribing GLP-1s, but on optimizing how they’re actually used in real-world patients. And that’s exactly what this conversation is about — how dosing strategy can completely change outcomes. Topics discussed: Why GLP-1 results may depend more on dosing than the medication itselfDr. Ian’s early belief in discipline — and why it eventually broke downWhen personal struggle turned into a medical reframe of obesityThe first experience with GLP-1s and the reality behind the resultsWhy “dose” isn’t the full story — understanding GLP-1 drug levelsMoving from standard protocols to individualized GLP-1 levelingHow personalized GLP-1 dosing works in real patientsThe future of GLP-1 therapy: a more responsive, guided model of careRethinking weight loss: from fixed doses to adaptive biologyThere’s a lot more nuance to GLP-1 therapy than standard protocols tend to show, and this episode really breaks down what happens when dosing becomes personalized rather than fixed. So if you want to understand how this approach actually works in practice — and why it might completely shift how we think about weight management — tune in to the full episode. Connect with Dr. Ian: Website: voafit.com,Instagram: voafitmdLearn about MyLevel:  voafit.com/mylevelBook a Consult: go.voafit.comMeet Our Clinic: voafit.comConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    38 min
  3. Jun 8

    Micro-Dosing GLPs Like Wegovy and Zepbound — Do We Even Need To???

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) What If the Lowest Dose Isn't Actually the Safest Dose? If you've spent any time in weight loss or wellness spaces online, you've probably come across the term microdosing — and chances are, it was framed as the smarter, gentler, more mindful way to use GLP-1 medications. But is that actually true? That's exactly what we're digging into today. In this episode, we cover: Is "Microdosing" GLP-1s Actually a Thing? — Where the term came from, why it took off, and whether it holds up clinically.The Right Dose Is the One That's Actually Working for You — What therapeutic dosing actually means and how to know if yours is doing its job.Weight Loss Is a Side Effect, Not Always the Goal — Why the scale isn't the only thing worth tracking — and what to measure instead.There Is No Prize for the Lowest Dose — The real cost of staying subtherapeutic and why "less is more" doesn't always apply here.There is no prize for taking the lowest dose. The goal isn't to stay as low as possible, and it isn't to push as high as possible either. The goal is to find the dose that actually works for you — for your body, your health conditions, and your specific outcomes. Check out the full episode and give it a listen — it's worth your time. Connect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    23 min
  4. Jun 1

    Calorie Counting and Logging- Should you do it and what to know

    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 counting calories is actually worth your time — or if it's just another diet trap dressed up in a tracking app? In this week’s episode, we talk about just that, and the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Calories are real, they matter, and paying attention to them can be genuinely useful — but the way many people approach calorie counting is often where things go sideways. Here's the thing though — calories are calculated using a  lab device. Which means it doesn’t take into account how the body actually processes those calories. You digest food, respond to it hormonally, and process it completely differently depending on what you're actually eating, not just how much. Protein burns some of its own calories just through digestion. Fiber doesn't get absorbed at all. And the same 100 calories from apple juice versus a whole apple with peanut butter will hit your body in completely different ways — one spikes your blood sugar and leaves you hungry again fast, the other keeps you full and satisfied for hours. Same number on paper, totally different story inside your body. That's why the old "calories in, calories out" model, while not entirely wrong, is a pretty significant oversimplification. Your metabolism adapts, your hunger hormones shift, and the quality of what you eat plays just as important a role as the quantity. Calories are one important piece of the puzzle — but they're far from the whole picture. In this episode, we cover: Why Not All Calories Are Created EqualMacros, Metabolism, and Why Your Body Isn't a MachineLog Like a Scientist, Not a JudgeWhen You've Already Done the WorkDitch the "I Blew It" MentalityThere's a lot more where this came from — tune into the full episode and you might just walk away thinking about food completely differently. 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. May 25

    Wegovy High Dose: Who Should Take It and What Are the Side Effects?

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Tripling the dose of Wegovy sounds intense — so why are researchers doing it, and who is it actually for? For a long time, 2.4 mg weekly was considered the ceiling for Wegovy. But a newer option quietly entered the conversation: Wegovy HD, a 7.2 mg weekly dose of semaglutide. And despite how big that jump sounds on paper, there surprisingly hasn't been that much discussion around it yet. As weight management treatment continues to move fast, higher-dose options are starting to expand what's possible — not necessarily for everyone, but for the right patient in the right situation. In this episode, we're breaking down what we know so far about Wegovy's new 7.2 mg dose — the data, the side effects, and who it may or may not be right for: Why Wegovy's dose just tripled — and what the clinical data actually showsWhat GI side effects really look like at 7.2 mg, and when they're most likely to hitThe unexpected skin sensation side effect that showed up in the higher-dose trialHow to know if you're actually a good candidate for the higher doseWho the 7.2 mg dose is approved for — and who it isn'tThe goal isn't to push everyone toward a higher dose. It's to make sure that if this option is relevant to you or someone you care about, you actually know it exists — and you have the full picture to bring into that conversation with your doctor. Tune into the full episode for the complete breakdown, because weight management treatment is moving fast, and being informed is the first step to making the right call for your health. Connect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    21 min
  6. May 18

    You Are Doing Better Than You Think

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Are You Being Too Hard on Yourself? Here's What Your Doctor Actually Sees "When was the last time you actually gave yourself credit for how far you've come?" That question has been sitting with me for a while now — and after a string of patient visits that all pointed to the same thing, it felt like the right time to talk about it. This week I'm stepping away from the guest format to have a more personal conversation about something I see constantly in my clinic: people who are making real, meaningful progress but are way too hard on themselves to notice. So consider this episode a pep talk, because honestly, you probably deserve one. In this episode, we talk about: Why Metabolic Adaptation Makes Weight Loss Harder Over TimeWhen Hunger Fights Back: Understanding Appetite AdaptationHow Black-and-White Thinking Gets in the Way of ProgressComparison Is the Thief of Joy — And Your Health Journey Deserves BetterI also share two songs I genuinely think should be on your playlist — the kind you put on when you need a little push to keep going. If you've been feeling stuck, discouraged, or like you're somehow falling behind, this one's for you. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. And if it speaks to you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that they're doing better than they think. Connect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    32 min
  7. May 11

    Trauma and Its Impact on Health and Weight with Dr. Meghan Tierney

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) Have you ever done everything right — the workouts, the meal plans, the early bedtimes — and still felt like your body was quietly working against you? Most people assume the answer is a stricter routine or a better diet. But what if the missing piece has nothing to do with either? What if it goes all the way back to something that happened to you years, maybe even decades, ago? This episode gets into trauma — what it actually is, how it silently rewires the body's biology, and why it keeps showing up in conversations about weight, health, and the way people experience care from their providers. It's a topic that's easy to sidestep, but one that deserves a real, honest look. Joining the conversation is Dr. Meghan Tierney, a board-certified family physician, obesity medicine specialist, and Menopause Society certified practitioner. She is the founder of Sorrel Health and Wellness in Seattle, Washington, where she supports women in midlife navigating perimenopause, menopause, and metabolic health — using evidence-based, weight-neutral care that weaves together medical treatment, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Here's what we talked about: What trauma actually means — and why it's probably broader than you thinkWhat trauma does to your body — the real biological changes that happen underneath the surfaceFood, coping, and why it's not your fault — understanding the connection between difficult experiences and eating behaviorStress, sleep, and the nervous system — why the body gets stuck, and what that looks like day to dayWhat you can actually do about it — practical, compassionate approaches that go beyond willpower and disciplineThe pattern keeps showing up: people dealing with persistent weight and health challenges who have also lived through difficult experiences. This isn't a coincidence — it reflects real shifts in biology, and understanding it changes everything about how care can be approached. Tune in to the full episode to hear the complete conversation with Dr. Meghan Tierney. Whether you're a patient trying to make sense of your own health journey, or a provider looking to show up more fully for the people in your care, this one is worth your time. Connect with Dr. Meghan: Instagram: meghantierneymdWebsite: Sorrel Health &l Wellness Connect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    38 min
  8. May 4

    Foundayo: A New Medication for Obesity and Chronic Weight Management with Dr. Becky Andrick

    Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today! Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.com) What If You Could Get the Benefits of a GLP-1 — Without the Needle? That's exactly the question Foundayo is answering — and it's one that a lot of patients have been waiting to ask. For years, one of the biggest barriers to GLP-1 therapy has been the injections. Not everyone is comfortable with self-injecting, not everyone has the time to manage refrigeration and travel logistics, and not everyone needs the most powerful medication on the market. So when a new oral option enters the picture, it's worth paying close attention.  In this episode, Dr. Becky Andrick joins the show to break down everything you need to know about this brand-new medication. Dr. Andrick is a fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association, associate clinical professor at Rocky Vista University, founder of the Colorado Obesity Society, and the founder of Weigh to Wellness, a private weight loss practice in Denver. She also happens to be the physician who first inspired our host to pursue obesity medicine — making this conversation as personal as it is clinical. These two experts go way back to residency, back when the entire obesity medicine toolkit was like, basically just phentermine. Watching this field evolve together over the past 14 years gives their conversation a depth and perspective that's hard to find anywhere else. In this episode, we cover: What makes Foundayo different from every other GLP-1 on the marketWho qualifies — and who should stay away from it entirelyThe side effects you can expect and exactly how to handle themWhat the clinical trial data actually says about real-world resultsWhy keeping the weight off is the harder battle — and how to win itNo matter where you are in your weight loss journey — whether you're brand new to all of this, already on a medication and wondering what else is out there, or simply trying to make a more informed decision for your health — this conversation was made with you in mind. Hit play and tune in to the full episode above. Connect with Dr. Andrick: Website: Weigh To Wellness DenverInstagram: wtwdenverConnect with me: Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

    36 min
4.9
out of 5
78 Ratings

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.

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