Bariatric surgeon Dr. Eric Smith and mental-health therapist Melanie Lindell join April to begin a six-part series on metabolic health. The conversation separates what people can influence from the biology and circumstances they cannot simply will away.

What you will learn

  • Why obesity requires long-term care rather than a short-term fix.
  • How hunger and satiety hormones affect weight regulation.
  • Where surgery and GLP-1 medications fit within comprehensive care.
  • Why sleep, nutrition, movement, and mental health still matter without becoming a source of blame.

In this episode

  • 04:00 — Meet Dr. Smith and Melanie Lindell
  • 08:04 — The six levers of metabolic health
  • 09:18 — Why biology complicates “eat less, move more”
  • 23:44 — Ghrelin, leptin, and weight regulation
  • 38:30 — Treatment tools and long-term habits
  • 44:13 — Sleep, joy, and mental health
  • 1:00:12 — Redesigning care around chronic disease

About the guests

Dr. Eric Smith is a board-certified bariatric and robotic surgeon. Melanie Lindell is a therapist, bariatric patient, BariNation board member, and licensed expert.