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Ozempic Shrinks Everything Except the Shame | A Matter of Fat Podcast

A Matter of Fat — with Giles Yeo and Rose Stokes

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What are we supposed to think about weight in 2026?

A Matter of Fat is a new podcast for anyone who has no idea what they think about weight, bodies and the rapidly changing conversation around them.

Hosted by journalist Rose Stokes, who brings 30 years of lived experience with weight and obesity, and Dr Giles Yeo, a University of Cambridge scientist who has spent three decades studying the genetics of body weight, this podcast brings together lived experience and science without pretending to have all the answers.

In our first episode, we confront the elephant in the room: Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and the arrival of GLP-1 weight-loss medications.

We cover:

• What GLP-1 medications actually do inside the body
• Why weight and appetite are not simply a matter of willpower
• Rose and Giles’ own experiences of taking weight-loss medication
• Why Giles kept his Wegovy use secret and felt like a fraud
• Whether weight-loss drugs really cause muscle loss
• Why weight stigma can make losing weight harder, not easier
• Plus, we fact-check “nature’s Ozempic” and revisit Rose’s disastrous experience with Orlistat

SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date with A Matter of Fat.

RESOURCES

Pennington Biomedical Research Center: Food noise study
https://www.pbrc.edu/news/media/2026/...

The Food Noise Questionnaire
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...

UCL and BMC Medicine: 1.6 million UK adults used weight-loss drugs in the past year
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-relea...

Major, Rathbone, Blodorn and Hunger: The Countervailing Effects of Weight Stigma on Weight-Loss Motivation and Perceived Capacity for Weight Control
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/...

Sutin and Terracciano: Perceived Weight Discrimination and Obesity
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/art...

Transparency:

Professor Giles Yeo consults and speaks for Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Amgen, and has received research grant funding from Novo Nordisk and Amgen. He is joining Amgen's cardiometabolic scientific advisory board, and also consults for Voy. Industry funds most obesity research and these relationships are typical for senior researchers in the field.

Rose Stokes has taken GLP-1 medication and writes about weight and the pharmaceutical industry as a freelance journalist.

FIND US 👇

Instagram: Instagram: amatteroffatpod
Rose Stokes: Instagram: rosestokes
Giles Yeo: Instagram: gilesyeo

Questions, thoughts or a story you want to share?
Email us: amatteroffatpod@gmail.com

20 Comments

@SharonHabberley 3 weeks ago (edited)

I lost 215lb in 15 months using tirzepatide, eating a very low carb diet as my mom died from type 2 diabetes complexities, also just for general health firstly, I want to be around for my grandson as long as possible and watch him grow up. I have been able to come off my blood pressure medication and feel fantastic and luckily I had no side effects, Also now I fit into our society because people suffering with the disease of obesity are shamed 😢 this infuriates me ! I’m still me but in a smaller body so why treat me differently now 😕 good luck Rosie I hope it works for you this time. Giles hopefully you will stop the onslaught of type 2 diabetes too.

@BarbMoxey 2 weeks ago

My mother successfully fought food noise and stayed at normal weight. But she was CONSTANTLY obsessed with food. It was all she thought about. She fought it every minute of every day of her life. She counted the calories in every morsel of food she ate (Did you know there are 4 calories in a mini-Triscuit? She knew). At 88 she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She joked that she would finally lose that last 2 pounds. But deep down I don't think she was joking. I wish these drugs had been available during her life. She spent so much mental energy fighting food, she never truly enjoyed eating anything.

@paulinapb9392 2 weeks ago

This podcast is amazing! I love the great chemistry between the two hosts. You make a heavy topic feel light and easy to listen to!

I’m on Mounjaro for 10 months and lost 67 pounds. It’s has been a life changing experience!

@militzarosaria 3 weeks ago (edited)

I used to think I was healthy even though I'm morbidly obese because I didn't have any weight related issues until I realized that obesity on itself is a decease. This started my journey towards a healthier weight because why would I sit and wait until my health deteriorates more because of something I can change. This is also why I do not believe that there is health at every size.

@Hayley_cherryfizz 3 weeks ago

Discovered the channel today and pleased I did. Wegovy for 4 months but switched from injection to oral and had to restart on the lowest dose so lost some time. And only my best friend knows, the shame exists!

@militzarosaria 3 weeks ago

Congratulations on starting a podcast! I thank the Algorithm gods for suggesting it to me and I immediately subscribed. I'm on a health journey and I love to learn and get new perspectives on taking care of my body. I'm losing weight slowly but surely through healthy eating, fitness and cardio challenging myself to do more. I wish you both the best with your GLP-1 journeys which to me is the same as health journey because at the end of the day they share the same goal.🤗

@HomeFunerals619 3 weeks ago

I’m a post menopausal woman who has been in the gym all my life. I’m retired Air Force so most of my adult life centered around 2 a day workouts for strength and fitness standards. Dieting = you name it, I have tried it. Once I hit my 40’s, nothing I did moved the scale! Diabetes and heart disease on both sides of my family. No hormone treatment ever! Not told about it nor offered it! Still no access!!! Continuously told to eat less and move more by both military and civilian doctors! Doctors actually said, “You are not working hard enough or we would see results. Your labs are normal. You need to eat less and move more!” Food noise has always been constant for me and no matter how disciplined I am it’s never quiet and the scale never moves. There HAS to be more going on when Tirzepatide / Zepbound is involved. The food noise is completely gone on day one and day two following injection and gradually increases to normal by day 6. This has been a game changer for me. The scale is moving and I feel stronger in the gym. For some unknown reason all IBS and Endometriosis inflammation and pain are zero for me 5 days out of 7 every week. If you are like me thin legs, thin arms and all weight gain is concentrated in your midsection, it’s the most dangerous weight and biggest health risk. Find a doctor that will listen. My sister couldn’t get help and she died 2 years ago at the age of 48. Her entire life doctors told her the same thing, “Calories in and Calories out.” Weight gain that doesn’t leave with proper exercise and diet = metabolic issues that can only be resolved by medication + exercise + nutrition. If your doctor is not listening to you, get a different doctor! If your doctor is abusing you, YOU have the right to report them to the medical board! Advocate for yourself.

@aminah.3320 7 days ago (edited)

After struggling with weight, bullying, being treated differently, being diagnosed with ADHD and insulin resistance (PMOS) and just obsessing over food and dieting since I was 8 years old, at 27 I am starting Wegovy on Monday and I have never been more excited about something in my life. I was a professional tennis player till 16 and I quit because of constant body shaming, been a gym rat since I quit and I was ALWAYS obese (BMI 38) and I am so lucky to live in a time where there is help, such a privilege to also be able to afford it (Germany 172 euros starting dose). Wish me luck!

@TheodoraVellum 2 weeks ago

I just finished my first month on Zepbound. I’ve lost 8 lbs. I only need to lose about another 15 lbs to put me solidly in the middle of the “normal” BMI range. I am wondering if I can just stay on a micro dose because of the way it kills my food noise. I can only imagine that this is what being on anti OCD meds is like: the peace from not having constant intrusive thoughts about food is heavenly.

@BarbMoxey 2 weeks ago

Consider this cruelty: My mom always fought her weight and food noise. When her favorite brother would come visit, he brought a 5 lb box of Sees candies, put them on the table in front of us, and said "Why don't you just let go and see how fat you can get." And laughed. He thought it was so funny. He did it may times. I will say it here: I hated him!

@mirandawalsh1143 3 weeks ago

What a wonderful and engaging new pod. Thank you to both of you for such a great maiden episode. You are in a fertile space for many more discussions. I personally would appreciate coverage on stress and sleep on female health, the effects of solvable fibre on reducing hunger, the gut biome and weight, and keto versus vegetarian diet for healthy weight maintenance. Keep up the good work. I won't follow u on Insta - only as it's a channel I can't tolerate pyschologically!

@eveb.6568 12 days ago

I LOOOVE how this woman interrupts and speaks over her guest!!! Love women speaking out of turn. Usually it's the other way round. Usually a man doesn't let a woman finish her sentences, and here it's overturned! Love it!!!!!

@mariselja4184 3 weeks ago

NIce channel, glad I found you.

@Tortie25 3 weeks ago

Very good content, on tirzep the reduction in food noise is such a relief, made it easier to choose good food choices. I will review when I get to my healthy weight but I never want to battle food noise again so may use microdosing for maintenance. I’m planning this is my last weight loss effort. Hoping the price comes down so it’s affordable long term.

@gabriellakadar 3 weeks ago

BMI 27 depends on where someone stores fat. If it's on hips and thighs that's different than intra-abdominal. There are the skinny fat with stick legs and arms and big bellies. Or the people with large amounts of subcutaneous fat all over. So I don't think someone at 27 BMI should be prejudiced against if they are using one of these medications because they might be pre-diabetic.
Or even type 2 diabetic. And going to the gym, lifting weights and whatnot isn't going to do all that much to change things. Maybe riding a bike for three hours per day will help them develop awesome thigh muscles but that isn't a reasonable ask.

@Without-t9d 3 weeks ago

Since february i have lost 25 kilo/55 lb

@Stierbrueller 2 weeks ago

I was never obese, just slightly overweigt. I was a sugar junkie and had all the symptoms of pre diabetes. I had lost all feeling in my left big toe and could barly keep my eyes open. I felt like death. Doctors just laughed at me and told me i was healthy! I did about half a year of excessive research, made lots of mistakes and almost killed myself eating potatoes after quitting all added sugar. Then i quit ALL forms of processed foods and healed my gut with homemade ferments and homemade rye sourdough bread with an excessive amount of fibre and protein in it because i also grind my own fresh flour. I consider yoghurt and hard cheese and butter and eggs the only 'pre processed' foods i eat now. I almost never eat out and bring my 3 kg bread loafs on holidays! After that eating healthy in quality and amount became a breeze (whole fresh seasonal food mostly plants, no pakets of whatever). After that and losing some weight i started working out slowly - no gym no nothing, just calistenics at home or during work using stuff form youtube and started to regularly fast a little bit almost every day without stress or hungerpains. I actually save money now, i have endless energy and strength and i feel fantastic. I now do exercise because i want to. Nobody should make the mistake to think anybody can buy healthy habits with some fad diet or bogus coaching. Do your own (Scientific) research, listen to everything, experiment, think for yourself and dont stress yourself out with counting calories or some such nonsense. Dont forget about absorption of nutrients and always eat something with vitamin c that isnt a pill! I recommend grinding some fresh horseraddish on your food wherever taste allows or just have some fruit for desert (no smoothies for the love of god!)

@taheraesmail4135 3 weeks ago

Please can you discuss weight loss surgery

@graciegee6317 3 weeks ago (edited)

I have limited mobility, I have MS which impacts my energy levels & now I also have osteoarthritis which means I now rely heavily on a wheelchair & walking sticks. My problem isn't over-eating, my problem is under-moving and even a modest calorie increase, results in a weight gain. I usually keep to around 1400 - 1500 a day, if I stray too far from that, I soon see my weight creeping up.

But people don't believe me when I tell them I don't overeat, or how relatively healthy the food I eat, is - I rarely eat carbs, I eat good protein, veg & salad & prefer fruit to a dessert. I don't eat Fast Food or Take Aways, I live in a rural location so there isn't much of that around! I don't eat cakes, biscuits or pastry. I rarely eat chocolate these days, the last time I had it was around 5 weeks ago - I know this because I keep a food diary. But no-one believes that I don't overeat. I'm overweight, so everyone just looks at me & decides I'm an out of control glutton. Whereas the actual fact is, my diet is probably more modest & healthy than a great number of 'slim' or normal sized people. I'm overweight because I have to use a wheelchair, it's not that I have to use a wheelchair because I'm fat.

@laurensargent9471 3 weeks ago

Pleas fat check intermittent fasting aka time restricted eating. That helped me lose 50 lb, post menopausal woman, always overweight since puberty, only bmi over 30 post menopause. Gained back 10-15 lb over the last year after keeping it off for 3+. No idea why. For me IF was free and easy. Thx. LOVE this podcast.