Why Your Metabolism Is Inflamed (Not Broken) — And How to Fix It

About this episode

Dr. Shivani Gupta discusses how inflammation affects metabolism and weight gain, providing insights and solutions.

Are you eating clean, working out consistently, and still gaining weight — especially around your middle? You're not broken, lazy, or imagining things. Your metabolism is inflamed. In this solo episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta breaks down the real science behind midlife weight gain and why the tired advice to "eat less and move more" can actually make things worse. Backed by a landmark January 2026 study from UT Southwestern — which identified the molecular switch that triggers uncontrolled inflammation in obesity — Dr. Shivani explains why chronic inflammation causes insulin resistance, belly fat storage, and a feedback loop that's nearly impossible to break through willpower alone. She shares the story of her own unexplained weight gain at 37, and how client Lisa — a dedicated runner — lost 15 pounds in 3 months not by restricting more, but by calming her nervous system and reducing inflammation. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Why chronic inflammation blocks insulin signaling and shifts your body into fat-storage mode • The NLRP3 inflammasome feedback loop: how obesity, inflammation & insulin resistance reinforce each other • Why intense daily workouts can backfire when cortisol is already…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Shivani Gupta

Topics covered

• metabolism
• inflammation
• weight gain
• insulin resistance
• diet
• exercise

Keywords

• metabolism
• inflammation
• weight gain
• insulin resistance
• diet
• exercise
• curcumin
• NLRP3 inflammasome

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UT Southwestern

Books & works: The Inflammation Code

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