GLP-1s, weight loss, and the inflammation tests your patient needs

A cardiologist who helped set national cholesterol and weight targets for 40 years now says those numbers can mislead. Richard M. Fleming, a physician specializing in cardiovascular and inflammatory disease, argues that weight loss on a GLP-1 does not automatically mean a patient is getting healthier, and that some patients who never lose a pound are already metabolically well. This episode is based on his article "GLP-1 agonists and weight loss: Treating the disease, not the number," published on KevinMD. You will hear why body mass index was never built to diagnose individuals, why inflammatory and thrombotic markers track disease more honestly than the scale, and how clinical trials from CAST to ACCORD have shown what happens when medicine treats the surrogate instead of the patient. He walks through which inflammation tests a primary care physician can run before, during, and after GLP-1 therapy, including high-sensitivity CRP, homocysteine, and fibrinogen. Hear why a 40-year insider says precision medicine requires precision measurement, not precision weighing. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended