Episode 1: Breaking the Stigma: Understanding Obesity as a Chronic Disease

In this episode, we hear from Sarah, a patient living with obesity, as she shares her lifelong journey—from early body image struggles and restrictive dieting to participating in a televised weight-loss transformation. Despite achieving peak fitness and completing an Olympic triathlon, Sarah’s weight returned, prompting her to explore the science behind obesity. Her discovery of metabolic adaptation and set-point theory reframed her understanding of the condition—not as a personal failure, but as a complex, chronic disease. Sarah candidly discusses the lack of empathy and support she received from healthcare professionals, who often dismissed her condition as a lifestyle issue. She calls for a systemic shift in how obesity is perceived and treated—emphasizing the need for education, policy change, and compassionate care. Her story is a powerful reminder that living with obesity is not a choice—and it calls for a significant shift in how we understand, support, and treat this complex, chronic condition. Participants: Host: Claudia Filozof, Vice President and Therapeutic Head Obesity, MASH, and Hepatology at Fortrea Sarah Le Brocq - Founder and Director, AllAboutObesity.org