unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver11 Nov 2025

GLP-1s and Midlife Metabolism: Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen Breaks Down the Science of Weight Loss and Menopause: Part 1

Are GLP-1 medications a game-changer for women in midlife—or just another quick fix? In this conversation, triple Board-certified in Obesity Medicine; fellowship-trained in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver to cut through the hype and share what women really need to know about Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and the science behind sustainable weight loss.

Dr. Salas-Whalen, founder of New York Endocrinology and author of the upcoming book Weightless, explains why GLP-1 receptor agonists represent a fundamental shift in how we understand and treat obesity—not as a willpower problem, but as a chronic medical condition with biological drivers including hormones, genetics, and metabolism.

For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, the conversation gets even more specific. Dr. Salas-Whalen breaks down why estrogen decline drives fat redistribution to the abdomen, increases visceral fat, and makes it nearly impossible to lose weight using the same strategies that worked before. She reveals how GLP-1 medications can address the metabolic changes of midlife while protecting what matters most: muscle mass.

Dr. Salas-Whalen shares her clinical experience treating thousands of patients and addresses the viral misinformation circulating online. She explains why obesity is a transgenerational disease influenced by genetics, environment, food accessibility, and even childhood trauma—not personal failure.

Guest links:

Meet Your Endocrinologist - Dr. Salas-Whalen (NY Endocrinology)

Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen (Instagram)

Books

“Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve” by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen

“The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

Articles

Loss of Visceral Fat is Associated with a Reduction in Inflammatory Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome (Molecular Nutrition and Food Research)

Increased visceral fat and decreased energy expenditure during the menopausal transition (International Journal of Obesity)

Sex-specific body fat distribution predicts cardiovascular ageing (European Heart Journal)

Association between metabolic healthy obe ...

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(60)

Testosterone Is Not a Male Hormone: Levels, Dosing, and What It Does During Menopause

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Mohit Khera, board-certified urologist and Professor of Urology at Baylor College of Medicine, where he holds the F. Brantley Scot...

1 Sep 1h 12min

Dr. Mary Claire Haver on Menopause: Recorded Live from LA with Dr. Rena Malik

This episode of unPAUSED was recorded live at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles in front of an audience gathered to talk about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, sex, brain health, and bone health. ...

25 Aug 1h 14min

Listen Again: Build Strength, Live Longer: The Menopause Longevity Blueprint with Dr. Vonda Wright

What if weak bones and muscle loss aren't just "normal aging" but the result of decades of misinformation? In this episode double board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright joins Dr. Mary Cla...

21 Aug 1h 21min

How to Get What You Need From a 15-Minute Doctor's Appointment with Dr. Lucy McBride

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Lucy McBride, a Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained primary care physician and author of the new book Beyond the Prescription: A Doc...

18 Aug 1h 7min

Menopause Sleep Reset: A Recovery Plan You Can Start Tonight with Dr. Kristen Holmes

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Kristen Holmes, Vice President of Performance Science at Whoop and author of the new book Aligned, moving from th...

14 Aug 51min

Menopause and the 3AM Wake Up: What Light, Meal Timing and Hormones Do with Dr. Kristen Holmes

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Kristen Holmes, Vice President of Performance Science at Whoop and author of the new book Aligned, to unpack why sleep and circadi...

11 Aug 1h 7min

An ADHD and Menopause Toolkit: What Actually Helps with Dr. Sasha Hamdani

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a board certified psychiatrist and ADHD clinical expert who wrote Self-Care for People with ADHD a...

7 Aug 41min

Brain Fog, Rage, Overwhelm: The ADHD and Menopause Overlap with Dr. Sasha Hamdani

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a board certified psychiatrist, ADHD clinical expert, and author of the forthcoming book Too Sensitive, for the fir...

4 Aug 51min