Have you ever wondered why your body holds onto weight despite your best efforts?

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Cooper reveals groundbreaking research showing that 100% of healthy adults carry at least six different plastic-related chemicals in their bodies daily. These endocrine disruptors don't just affect your hormones - they may be stored in your fat tissue and could be a hidden driver of metabolic dysfunction. The good news? New Australian research proves you can dramatically reduce these chemicals in just one week with targeted changes.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Every single person tested had at least 6 plastic chemicals in their urine, with food packaging being the primary source

• Participants cut phthalate levels by 38-54% and BPA by 60% in just 7 days with adjustments in reducing plastic exposure in food and food packaging

• Ultra-processed foods introduce plastic chemicals through multiple processing and packaging steps

• Certain chemicals like DEHP may be stored in fat tissue and released during weight loss

• Heat accelerates plastic migration into food - avoid microwaving in plastic and pouring hot food into plastic containers

• Simple swaps like choosing fresh over canned foods and using glass containers make significant impacts

• The EPA research office studying these chemicals was recently eliminated, removing key consumer protections

NOTABLE QUOTE

"People who switched to the low plastic food and kitchenware cut the phthalates excretion by 38 to 54% in one week and they cut their BPA excretion by 60% in one week." — Dr. Emily Cooper

Links & Resources

Podcast Home: fatsciencepodcast.com

Cooper Center for Metabolism: coopermetabolic.com

Resources from Dr. Cooper: coopermetabolic.com/resources

Join Our Community: patreon.com/cw/FatSciencePodcast

Submit Your Question: questions@fatsciencepodcast.com or dr.c@fatsciencepodcast.com

Fat Science is supported by the Diabesity Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to effective, science-based metabolic care.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.

What happens when GLP-1 medications stop working the way you hoped they would? In this mailbag episode, Dr. Emily Cooper answers listener questions about fasting, insulin levels, PCOS, lipedema, plateaus on Zepbound, and the complicated reality behind metabolic dysfunction. From the dangers of under-fueling to why individualized treatment matters so much, this conversation unpacks the science behind weight resistance with clarity and compassion.Key Takeaways

• Why fasting and restrictive eating may worsen metabolic adaptation

• The real role insulin plays in metabolic health

• How PCOS and lipedema complicate weight loss treatment

• Why some people plateau on GLP-1 medications over time

• The importance of fueling, muscle preservation, and individualized care

Links & Resources

Podcast Home: fatsciencepodcast.com

Cooper Center for Metabolism: coopermetabolic.com

Resources from Dr. Cooper: coopermetabolic.com/resources

Join Our Community: patreon.com/cw/FatSciencePodcast

Submit Your Question: questions@fatsciencepodcast.com or dr.c@fatsciencepodcast.com

Fat Science is supported by the Diabesity Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to effective, science-based metabolic care.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.

Could you have metabolic dysfunction even at a normal weight?

This episode challenges everything we've been taught about weight and health. Dr. Cooper reveals that up to 25% of normal-weight people have metabolic syndrome, yet they're rarely screened because doctors assume they're healthy based on appearance alone.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Weight and metabolic health are not the same thing - you can be metabolically unhealthy at any size

• Normal weight people with metabolic dysfunction are often overlooked and undertreated by healthcare providers

• Key screening tests include fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers like HSCRP

• Metabolic dysfunction can start in your 20s and take decades to develop into serious disease

• Both normal weight and higher weight patients face bias - normal weight people aren't screened enough, while higher weight people have everything blamed on their weight

• Early screening and treatment can prevent catastrophic health outcomes later in life

• The liver plays a crucial role in metabolism and can become insulin resistant regardless of body weight

NOTABLE QUOTE

"You cannot tell anything about someone's health from their outside, what they look like or what, even what they're doing necessarily, but definitely not their body size. So you can be healthy or unhealthy at any size body, and I think that's what's overlooked quite a bit." — Dr. Emily Cooper

Links & Resources

Podcast Home: fatsciencepodcast.com

Cooper Center for Metabolism: coopermetabolic.com

Resources from Dr. Cooper: coopermetabolic.com/resources

Join Our Community: patreon.com/cw/FatSciencePodcast

Submit Your Question: questions@fatsciencepodcast.com or dr.c@fatsciencepodcast.com

Appendix: Key References

Primary literature supporting this episode

• Wang et al. Prevalence of Metabolically Unhealthy Normal Weight and Its Influence on the Risk of Diabetes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2023.

• Review: Beyond BMI — Rethinking Obesity Metrics and Cardiovascular Risk in the Era of Precision Medicine. Journal of Clinical Medicine, December 2025.

• Korean meta-analyses on metabolic dysfunction phenotypes and cardiometabolic risk, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences Journal review, 2024.

• Frontiers in Nutrition, January 2026. Associations of metabolic heterogeneity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity.

• International Journal of Obesity, September 2025. Cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic health phenotypes.

Mechanism references

• MASLD — metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease — nomenclature and clinical framework. AASLD/EASL consensus, 2023.

• Insulin signaling, adipose tissue dysfunction, and ectopic fat deposition — reviews on the upstream-downstream relationship.

• Epicardial adipose tissue and cardiovascular dysfunction — Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, January 2026.

Fat Science is supported by the Diabesity Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to effective, science-based metabolic care.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.