There’s a lot of chatter—and even more confusion—about what it really means to support patients on obesity medications.

In this episode of In the Know with Nina, Dr. Nina Crowley welcomes Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM—widely known as @SummertheDietitian—for a deeply personal and refreshingly honest conversation. Summer blends clinical expertise with lived experience as both a GLP-1 patient and provider. Together, they explore what it takes to rebuild a relationship with food, overcome stigma, and reimagine success in weight management beyond the number on the scale.

This conversation bridges science, behavior, and humanity—offering insight and empathy for anyone navigating obesity care in the GLP-1 era.

Key Takeaways

• What is “food noise”—and how do GLP-1s quiet it?
• Why intuitive eating principles can align with medication-based care
• The stigma dietitians face when living in larger bodies
• Why weight loss alone isn’t the goal—preserving muscle is
• What sustainable nutrition looks like in real life
• How GLP-1s help people finally follow through on their best intentions

About Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM, LDN

Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM, LDN is a registered dietitian, GLP-1 nutrition expert, and author of the upcoming book Living Your Healthiest Semaglutide Life (July 2025). She’s also co-founder of JoinVineyard.com, a virtual platform offering comprehensive obesity care and medication access.

Connect with Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM, LDN

Pre-order her book: Living Your Healthiest Semaglutide Life on Amazon

Follow on Instagram: @SummertheDietitian

Learn more: JoinVineyard.com

How can we better support patients with metabolic liver disease through multidisciplinary care, lifestyle medicine, and emerging treatments like GLP-1s and endoscopic procedures?

In this episode of In the Know with Nina, Dr. Nina Crowley is joined by Sheena Batura, MS, RDN, CSOWM, Director of Clinical Programs at Salvo Health. Together, they dive into the evolving landscape of metabolic liver disease, highlighting the importance of dietitian leadership, patient-centered care, and healthcare integration.

Key Takeaways

• Metabolic liver disease requires comprehensive, multidisciplinary support

• Lifestyle medicine and behavior change are essential to long-term outcomes

• GLP-1 receptor agonists are opening new doors for treatment and coverage

• Dietitians deserve — and are claiming — leadership roles in healthcare

• Integration between providers improves both access and outcomes

• Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty represents a growing treatment option

About my Guest

Sheena Batura, MS, RDN, CSOWM, is the Director of Clinical Programs at Salvo Health, where she leads a multidisciplinary team supporting gastroenterology and obesity practices. With expertise in obesity medicine and a strong background in dietetics, Sheena is passionate about expanding access to patient-centered care and elevating the role of dietitians in healthcare leadership.

How to Connect

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenabatura

LinkedIn for Salvo Health: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salvohealth

How can primary care providers move beyond BMI, use body composition meaningfully, and still have compassionate nutrition conversations in the limited time they have?

In this episode of In the Know with Nina, Dr. Nina Crowley is joined by Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RD—a dual-credentialed physician assistant and registered dietitian who practices in pediatric primary care in Florida and hosts the Exam Room Nutrition podcast.

Description

Together we explore why BMI remains the default in primary care, despite its limitations, and how to introduce body composition as a practical, scalable tool. Colleen shares insights from her work with clinicians and dietitians, highlighting common barriers like time, confidence, and stigma, and offers strategies for more effective patient conversations. We also dig into motivational interviewing, the difference between education and counseling, and how referral networks with dietitians can transform care.

Key Takeaways

• Why BMI persists in primary care and what it misses

• How body composition provides richer, more actionable insights

• The biggest barriers clinicians face when discussing nutrition and weight

• Practical strategies like the ask–offer–ask framework to guide conversations

• Why education ≠ counseling, and how team-based care makes the difference

About My Guest

Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RD, is a physician assistant and registered dietitian working in pediatric outpatient care in Florida. She is also the host of the Exam Room Nutrition podcast and creator of the new Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course, designed to equip clinicians and dietitians with practical tools for obesity management, nutrition counseling, and patient support.

How to Connect

Instagram: @examroomnutrition

LinkedIn: Colleen Sloan

How is the cardiology community beginning to embrace obesity treatment as part of cardiovascular care?

In this episode of In the Know with Nina, Dr. Nina Crowley is joined by Dr. Beverly Tchang, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, endocrinologist, and board-certified obesity medicine physician. Together they dive into the new American College of Cardiology guidance on medical weight management, exploring what it means for obesity care, cardiology, and the growing role of pharmacotherapy like GLP-1s.

Key Takeaways

• Obesity is increasingly recognized as a disease that impacts multiple organ systems, making its treatment essential for cardiovascular health.

• Multidisciplinary, collaborative care is critical for effective obesity management, particularly as cardiology becomes more engaged in this field.

• GLP-1 medications and other pharmacotherapies are reshaping obesity and cardiovascular treatment strategies.

• Addressing weight stigma and bias is essential to delivering patient-centered care.

• Moving beyond BMI with body composition assessments—and overcoming practical challenges like waist circumference measurement—will improve precision in clinical practice.

• Technology is advancing tools for body composition analysis, supporting more consistent and scalable care.

• The landscape of obesity treatment is evolving rapidly, with cardiology playing a growing role.

About my Guest

Beverly Tchang, MD is a triple board-certified physician and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center, Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, where she specializes in endocrinology and obesity medicine. Her nationally recognized expertise extends beyond the clinic—she also serves as an advisor to companies, entrepreneurs, and investors seeking to understand modern weight management.

How to Connect

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BevTchangMD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlytchang/

X: https://x.com/BevTchangMD

Website: https://www.beverlytchangmd.com/

What’s the best way to fuel strength, preserve muscle, and support body composition after bariatric surgery or on GLP-1s?

In this episode of In the Know with Nina, Dr. Nina Crowley is joined by Kim Tirapelle, MS, RD, CSSD—Bariatric Sports Dietitian and host of the Active Bariatric Nutrition Podcast. Together, they explore how post-op patients and individuals using GLP-1 medications can preserve lean mass, improve strength, and shift the focus from weight loss to body composition and performance.

This conversation breaks down how to tailor nutrition for an active lifestyle after bariatric surgery, what realistic protein and exercise goals look like, and when it makes sense to add supplements like creatine. Whether you’re a provider or a patient, this episode is packed with insight to help support strength, function, and a more holistic view of metabolic health.

Key Takeaways

• Protein needs vary based on activity, goals, and medical therapy—there’s no one-size-fits-all

• Resistance training is critical to preserve muscle and promote long-term health

• Creatine is safe, effective, and valuable when used alongside proper training and nutrition

• GLP-1 medications change appetite and intake—protein strategy must adapt

• Body composition tracking provides a more complete picture than weight alone

• Segmental muscle analysis and visceral fat measures help guide individualized care

About my Guest

Kim Tirapelle is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in Bariatric Sports Nutrition. She has been working with active bariatric individuals for the last 18+ years helping them optimize their nutrition to fuel their fitness goals after surgery. She also has a podcast, Active Bariatric Nutrition.

How to Connect:

Website: activebariatricnutrition.com

Instagram: @activebariatric

Podcast: The Active Bariatric Nutrition Podcast