The Real Reason Your Kid Can’t Lose Weight (EP 94)

We dug into one of the most emotional topics out there: kids, weight, and the mess of shame, blame, and bad advice wrapped around childhood obesity. Dr. Evan Nadler breaks down why obesity is a chronic disease driven heavily by genetics and epigenetics, why kids are not “choosing” this, and why telling them to just move more and eat less is lazy, outdated nonsense that doesn’t work for most adults either. We also got real about BMI as a screening tool, how parental health and pregnancy weight gain affect a child’s long-term risk, and why the body fights to defend its weight even when you’re doing “all the right things.” From GLP‑1 meds like semaglutide to bariatric surgery in teens, Dr. Nadler walks through what’s actually available, what’s approved for kids, why it’s not the “easy way out,” and how early treatment can prevent a lifetime of metabolic damage. Chapters 00:23 Welcome to My Unhealthy Podcast 01:23 Understanding Childhood Obesity 05:39 The Role of Genetics and Environment 13:49 Defining Obesity and BMI 18:14 The Complexities of Treatment 23:43 Exploring Bariatric Surgery 30:05 Insurance and Bariatric Surgery Criteria 34:30 The Biological Nature of Obesity 40:25 Understanding the Challenges Ahead 46:44 Wrapping Up the Discussion Guest: Evan Nadler, MD Website: https://www.obesityexplained.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanpnadler Companies / Vendors / Products Mentioned Ozempic (semaglutide): https://www.ozempic.com Wegovy (semaglutide): https://www.wegovy.com Mounjaro: https://www.mounjaro.com Zepbound: https://zepbound.lilly.com Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro/Zepbound and oral GLP‑1): https://www.lilly.com Oral Wegovy: https://www.novonordisk.com/products/obesity.html Children’s National Hospital: https://www.childrensnational.org National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nih.gov HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services): https://www.hhs.gov === MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item Item Title: Healthy Eating Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/healthy-eating-VNN4M4P Author Username: CrazyTunes Licensee: Marvin Bee Registered Project Name: Unhealthy Podcast License Date: January 3rd, 2026 Item License Code: XPFS6HD54W === About the Unhealthy PodcastHosted by Marvin Bee (Uncle Marv), the Unhealthy Podcast dives into real conversations about health, wellness, and everyday habits that impact how we live, work, and age. From nutrition myths to stress management and tech-life balance, Uncle Marv brings humor, insight, and honesty to every episode.Visit our website: https://www.unhealthypodcast.com/ Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamunclemarvConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvinbee/Follow and Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Join the conversation about real-life health, fitness, and personal growth from the lens of an everyday guy striving to be healthier.