Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program

Dietitian Advice on a GLP-1 with Steph Wagner, RD

Steph Wagner is a Registered Dietitian with 15 years of experience in bariatric surgery nutrition and now GLP-1 medications. She’s the owner and creator of Bariatric Food Coach, a comprehensive membership website for with resources, education and community for post-op surgical patients. Website: BariatricFoodCoach.com [http://BariatricFoodCoach.com] Instagram: @bariatricfoodcoach [https://www.instagram.com/bariatricfoodcoach/] Facebook: @bariatricfoodcoach [https://www.facebook.com/bariatricfoodcoach/] YouTube: @BariatricFoodCoach [https://www.youtube.com/@BariatricFoodCoach] Pinterest: bariatricfoodcoach [https://www.pinterest.com/bariatricfoodcoach/] Steph Wagner joins us to explain what changes when nutrition stops being simple and starts affecting your symptoms, your labs, and your day-to-day life. We break down how dietitians support bariatric patients and people on GLP-1 medications while keeping care realistic, compassionate, and personalized.  • knowing “healthy foods” versus building a plan that fits real life  • using a dietitian when obesity and chronic disease make nutrition confusing  • insurance coverage basics for dietitian visits and why Medicare rules frustrate patients  • bariatric surgery nutrition goals compared with GLP-1 nutrition goals  • managing GLP-1 side effects with protein timing meal texture and hydration  • differences we see between semaglutide and tirzepatide tolerance  • why a daily multivitamin often makes sense when intake drops  • watching for deficiency clues and using symptoms to guide targeted labs  • reducing triggers for people with disordered eating and screening for eating disorders  • common barriers like time shame and finding a provider who feels safe  • motivational interviewing as a way to set goals you actually own  • navigating diabetes meds and when to ask about GLP-1s and SGLT2 inhibitors  If you found this information helpful, please share with a friend, family member, or colleague. Please subscribe and write a review.  👩🏼‍⚕️ Live in Missouri? Want to be my patient? Telehealth clinic: https://missourimetabolichealth.com [https://missourimetabolichealth.com/about-telehealth-clinic] 🥑 Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email support@missourimetabolichealth.com ✨Freebies✨ Anti-Obesity Medication Options [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/medications] How To Prevent Diabetes [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/diabetes] Healthy Habits Workbook [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/habits] Preventative Health Checklist [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/1eecd5e72f] 🤗 Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg]

Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program

Medicare’s new Bridge program could open access to GLP-1 medications starting July 1, 2026, with an expected $50 monthly copay for eligible beneficiaries. We walk through the exact qualification rules and the practical safety steps we use when prescribing GLP-1s for adults 65 and older.  • Medicare Bridge program timeline and why it could influence commercial insurance coverage  • How Bridge eligibility differs from FDA-approved GLP-1 indications  • BMI 35+ qualification and why highest documented BMI matters  • BMI 30+ plus qualifying conditions like heart failure, resistant hypertension, or CKD stage 3A+  • How to spot CKD in labs using eGFR on a BMP or CMP  • BMI 27+ pathways including prediabetes, prior heart attack or stroke, and symptomatic PAD  • PAD basics and symptoms to bring to your clinician  • Older adult safety basics including slow titration and avoiding dehydration  • Nutrition priorities including adequate calories, protein, and micronutrients  • Strength and mobility support through PT and beginner-friendly strength training  • Why medication doses for blood pressure and diabetes may need adjustment during weight loss  • Osteoporosis screening around age 65 and why it matters during GLP-1 treatment  If you found this information helpful, please share with a friend, family member, or colleague. Please subscribe and write a review. ------------------------------------------------------- Supportive GLP-1 Community:     Deb Cooperman TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/discover/debcooperman]     The Plus SideZ Podcast [https://theplussidez.net/]     Mike on a Mission TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mike.onamission2]     GLP1 Collective [https://glp1collective.org/] GLP Strong (accessible exercise) [https://www.glpstrong.com/] 👩🏼‍⚕️ Live in Missouri? Want to be my patient? Telehealth clinic: https://missourimetabolichealth.com [https://missourimetabolichealth.com/about-telehealth-clinic] 🥑 Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email support@missourimetabolichealth.com ✨Freebies✨ Anti-Obesity Medication Options [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/medications] How To Prevent Diabetes [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/diabetes] Healthy Habits Workbook [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/habits] Preventative Health Checklist [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/1eecd5e72f] 🤗 Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg]

Link Between Obesity and Inflammation with Dr. Isabelle Amigues, MD

Isabelle Amigues, MD, CEO and Founder of UnabridgedMD in Rheumatology  Isabelle Amigues, MD, is a rheumatologist based in Denver, Colorado. She honed her expertise by studying in Paris, as well as at Columbia University, in New York City. At age 40 she was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. A timely meeting with a non-traditionally trained practitioner taught her a different approach to disease where she experienced the power of meditation, visualization, energy healing, and love. Her journey through cancer inspired her to learn more about these alternative techniques and she now blends western medicine and eastern techniques into her practice at UnabridgedMD. Website: UnabridgedMD.com [http://www.UnabridgedMD.com] Youtube: @Rheumatology101 [https://www.youtube.com/@Rheumatology101] Instagram: @unabridgedmd [https://www.instagram.com/unabridgedmd/] Facebook: @UnabridgedMD [https://www.facebook.com/UnabridgedMD/] X: @UnabridgedMD [https://x.com/UnabridgedMD] Fat tissue isn’t just “extra weight.” It can function like an immune-active organ, packed with inflammatory cells that quietly raise the baseline inflammation in your body. That one shift in understanding changes how we think about obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic disease and it may explain why conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can be harder to control when excess adipose tissue is in the mix. We’re joined by Dr. Isabelle Amig, a board-certified rheumatologist in Denver and the host of Unabridged MD, to unpack what the research and real-world clinic patterns are showing. We talk about what doctors literally see in fat biopsies, why ongoing inflammation becomes “fuel on the fire” for autoimmune disease, and how obesity can raise risk and severity in inflammatory arthritis. Then we connect the dots to cardiometabolic health, including why systemic inflammation also matters for cardiovascular disease and kidney outcomes. We also go deep on GLP-1 receptor agonists and why their impact may extend beyond appetite and weight loss. Dr. Amig shares why some patients report feeling better fast, sometimes before significant weight changes, and how emerging science suggests a direct anti-inflammatory effect at the cellular level. Finally, we address the stigma head-on: insulin resistance is common, menopause and biology play a role, and using evidence-based obesity medicine isn’t a moral failure. If this conversation helps you, share it with someone who needs clearer health information, then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show. 👩🏼‍⚕️ Live in Missouri? Want to be my patient? Telehealth clinic: https://missourimetabolichealth.com [https://missourimetabolichealth.com/about-telehealth-clinic] 🥑 Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email support@missourimetabolichealth.com ✨Freebies✨ Anti-Obesity Medication Options [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/medications] How To Prevent Diabetes [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/diabetes] Healthy Habits Workbook [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/habits] Preventative Health Checklist [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/1eecd5e72f] 🤗 Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg]

Fatigue On GLP-1s: Why It's Happening And How To Fix It

We break down why fatigue can show up on GLP-1 medications and why the fix depends on the real cause, not a one-size-fits-all trick. We walk through four common drivers and the practical next steps that help you feel energized while still moving toward your weight loss and metabolic health goals.  • underfueling on GLP-1 due to strong appetite suppression and overly aggressive calorie restriction  • balancing calories with a slight deficit to support weight loss without draining daily energy  • macronutrient balance and why extreme low-carb approaches can leave some people exhausted  • when to consider discussing a lower GLP-1 dose with your doctor  • micronutrient basics and who needs extra attention due to absorption issues  • three key labs to ask about for fatigue: vitamin D, ferritin, and vitamin B12  • vitamin D targets, sunlight timing, food sources, and safe supplementation monitoring  • iron deficiency fatigue despite a normal CBC and why ferritin matters  • iron treatment options including food, every-other-day oral iron, and IV iron when needed  • sleep quantity and sleep quality as major fatigue drivers  • sleep hygiene fundamentals and CBT-I as first-line care for primary insomnia  • obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, home testing, and CPAP as the most effective treatment  • normal temporary fatigue during weight loss and when it signals a bigger problem  If you found this information helpful, please share with a friend, family member, or colleague. Please subscribe and write a review. ---------------------------------- How to improve your sleep (Dr. Ogle YouTube) [https://youtu.be/4cBwDHNIUjQ?si=62p_ts8mfl5pmm4p] CBT-i Free App (for insomnia) [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cbt-i-coach/id655918660] 👩🏼‍⚕️ Live in Missouri? Want to be my patient? Telehealth clinic: https://missourimetabolichealth.com [https://missourimetabolichealth.com/about-telehealth-clinic] 🥑 Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email support@missourimetabolichealth.com ✨Freebies✨ Anti-Obesity Medication Options [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/medications] How To Prevent Diabetes [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/diabetes] Healthy Habits Workbook [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/habits] Preventative Health Checklist [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/1eecd5e72f] 🤗 Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg]

Body Composition Analysis with Nina Crowley, PhD, RD

Nina Crowley, PhD, RD, is a nationally recognized expert in body composition and obesity care. She holds a PhD in Health Psychology and blends clinical expertise with a deep understanding of behavior change and patient-centered care. Before her current role, she led the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where she focused on advancing patient outcomes through multidisciplinary care. As Director of Clinical Education and Partnerships at Seca, Nina leads strategic collaborations to expand education and access in obesity and metabolic health. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Obesity Action Coalition and hosts the podcast "In the Know with Nina," where she explores body composition, obesity care, and health innovation. Connect with Nina Crowley, PhD, RD: LinkedIn: ninacrowley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninacrowley/] Twitter/X: @PsychoDietitian [https://x.com/PsychoDietitian] Instagram: @ninamcrowley [https://www.instagram.com/ninamcrowley/] Facebook: @ninacrowley [https://www.facebook.com/ninacrowley] Podcast: In the Know with Nina [https://open.spotify.com/show/4ihRR2yiGrNrugCyaRO4je?si=99606dcff72a4127] Episode with Dr. Lindsay Ogle [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-know-with-nina/id1685983961?i=1000704335864] We talk with dietitian and health psychologist Nina Crowley about why body composition beats weight alone for understanding health, risk, and progress. We break down where BMI falls short, how modern bioimpedance works, and how to use the data without getting trapped by daily fluctuations.  • why weight and BMI miss muscle loss and hidden adiposity  • how body composition supports obesity treatment decisions and dosing pace  • why plateaus can still mean fat loss and muscle gain  • better goal setting that focuses on behaviors and fitness markers  • overview of body composition tests and what has improved over 20 years  • office-grade bioimpedance versus home scales and common accuracy pitfalls  • how often to measure so the numbers stay useful  • why a care team helps turn data into sustainable behavior change  If you found this information helpful, please share with a friend, family member, or colleague. We need to do all we can to combat the dangerous misinformation that is out there. Please subscribe and write a review. This will help others find the podcast so they may also improve their metabolic health. 👩🏼‍⚕️ Live in Missouri? Want to be my patient? Telehealth clinic: https://missourimetabolichealth.com [https://missourimetabolichealth.com/about-telehealth-clinic] 🥑 Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email support@missourimetabolichealth.com ✨Freebies✨ Anti-Obesity Medication Options [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/medications] How To Prevent Diabetes [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/diabetes] Healthy Habits Workbook [https://drlindsayogle.kit.com/habits] Preventative Health Checklist [https://drlindsayogle.ck.page/1eecd5e72f] 🤗 Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg]