Metabolic health is more than weight loss—it's about addressing the root causes of obesity as a disease. Today’s episode is sponsored by AdventHealth and we were excited to sit down with Dr. Damon Tanton, Executive Medical Director of AdventHealth Central Florida's Metabolic Health Institute, to explore how insulin resistance drives weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Tanton explains why treating obesity requires whole-person care rather than focusing solely on diet and exercise. We discuss the root causes of metabolic syndrome and how personalized care is transforming lives by addressing hyperinsulinemia and reversing metabolic damage before it becomes irreversible.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
- 00:00 Metabolic health, obesity medicine and understanding insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia
- 06:56 Why obesity is a physiological, not a behavioral issue, and obesity is not your fault
- 18:52 How visceral fat triggers the metabolic disease cascade and the domino effect
- 28:30 The importance of early intervention in metabolic syndrome
- 30:43: Discussion of personalized individualized care and the frustration with healthcare
- 38:20 Whole person care approach at AdventHealth Central Florida
- 44:34 Overcoming shame and judgment in obesity treatment and creating trust between patient and doctor
- 55:50 Life gained through metabolic wellness and authenticity, and when is the best time to have surgery
- 1:00:22 Jason shares how his life has changed, and Dr. Tanton encourages being your authentic self to the listener
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Insulin resistance affects over 100 million Americans and is the underlying cause of 70% of all diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, anxiety, and reproductive problems. Addressing hyperinsulinemia is the key to reversing metabolic health decline.
- The medical system has been backwards for decades, blaming patients for behavioral issues instead of addressing the science first. Personalized care that treats the whole person without judgment is essential for sustainable results.
- Bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications are not just weight loss tools—they're powerful treatments that correct physiological dysfunction by dramatically lowering insulin levels and reducing inflammation throughout the body.
BariNation - Partnership Monthly Membership
BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide
AdventHealth Central Florida - Instagram
AdventHealth Orlando - Website
AdventHealth Central Florida, Damon Tanton, MD,
BIOGRAPHY:
Damon Tanton, MD, is board-certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. He serves as Executive Medical Director of the Metabolic Health Institute at AdventHealth and sees patients at AdventHealth Medical Group in Orlando, Florida. A University of Miami School of Medicine graduate, he completed his residency at Wright-Patterson Medical Center and fellowship in endocrinology at Lackland Air Force Base. He specializes in diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity treatment, PCOS, and thyroid disorders.
ABOUT:
If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.
About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need and when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.