Obesity is a chronic, lifelong disease, not a failure of willpower. In this episode of the BariNation Foundation Podcast, April Williams sits down with bariatric surgeon Dr. Monique Hassan and BariNation community member Jasmine Fernandez to challenge the idea that one tool can treat obesity. They discuss the full range of surgical options: surgery, GLP-1s, mindset, movement, community, self-advocacy, and overcoming shame while treating obesity as a chronic, lifelong disease. If you've ever felt shame about needing more than one treatment, this conversation offers permission to stop apologizing and start healing.

What You Will Learn in this Episode:

✅ How bariatric surgery options like sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch compare, explained through a simple car analogy.

✅ Why GLP-1 medication works for some patients and not others, and how it fits into a full obesity treatment plan.

✅ How to build self-advocacy skills and find a comprehensive care team that treats the whole person.

✅ Why emotional eating, mindset work, and support groups matter just as much as any medical or surgical tool.

This episode of the BariNation Podcast is produced by the BariNation Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) dedicated to advancing metabolic wellness for people living with obesity by providing evidence-based education, stigma-free support, and meaningful connections in the moments that shape daily life. Funding comes from generous donations to the BariNation Foundation from listeners and viewers like you, Johnson & Johnson, and the Texas Center for Bariatrics & Advanced Surgery, led by Dr. Joe Cribbins.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Bariatric surgeon Dr. Hassan shares her magic wand question for setting real weight loss goals

04:07 Why one thing is not enough to treat obesity

05:20 Meet Dr. Monique Hassan, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and Jasmine Fernandez, longtime BariNation member and gastric bypass patient

08:09 Why willpower alone never cures the chronic disease of obesity

10:47 Jasmine's winding path to gastric bypass surgery in 2021

14:54 Naming the inner critic and staying accountable after surgery

18:37 Walking through goals with your doctor and advocating for yourself

31:00 The “fight” and journey of obesity

43:42 Selecting the right tool for you to fight obesity

45:41 The car analogy: sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch compared

56:48 How to find a comprehensive bariatric surgery provider near you

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

💎 Obesity is a chronic, lifelong disease, so bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medication, and mindset work have to work together, not against each other.

💎 A good bariatric surgeon asks about your real-life goals before ever discussing a treatment plan.

💎 Naming your inner critic takes away its power and makes it easier to catch emotional eating before it starts.

💎 Progress over perfection matters more than any number on the scale, especially in long-term obesity treatment.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Monique Hassan, MD, is a bariatric and metabolic surgeon who serves as the Division Director of Bariatric and General Surgery and Director of Obesity Medicine at Baylor Scott & White – Temple, and is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at The Baylor College of Medicine - Temple Campus.

Dr. Monique Hassan - Instagram

Dr. Monique Hassan - Facebook

Jasmine Fernandez is a wife, mom of two, operations and logistics leader, and someone who completely transformed her health. Her journey hasn’t been about chasing perfection; it’s been about choosing herself every day. Through gastric bypass surgery, lifestyle changes, therapy, and perseverance, she discovered that lasting change comes from consistency, not quick fixes. “I hope that by sharing my story honestly, I can encourage others to believe that no matter where they start, a healthier and happier life is possible.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

BariNation Community - $19 a month

BariNation Website

BariNation - Email

BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide

4 Steps to Find an Obesity Provider

Finding Your Holistic Obesity Care Team

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BariNation, Bariatric Surgery, NSVS, GLP-1, VSG, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, Lapband, Roux-en-Y, Gastric Bypass, Sadi-S, Obesity Treatment, GLP-1 Medication, Duodenal Switch, Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity Medicine, Chronic Disease, Metabolic Wellness, Emotional Eating, Inner Critic, Self Advocacy, weight loss mindset, obesity treatment options, BariNation Foundation