Send us a text

In this powerful first half of a two-part conversation, Dr. Supatra Tovar sits down with quadruple board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Wellness Psychiatry, Dr. Vikas “Vic” Gupta, to explore one of today’s most urgent and misunderstood topics: how GLP-1 medications intersect with mental health, metabolism, nourishment, and whole-person wellness.

Dr. Gupta’s clinical work spans psychiatry, obesity medicine, lifestyle medicine, and metabolic health. Having served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and currently holding leadership roles within the American Psychiatric Association and AACAP, he is one of the nation’s leading voices on the future of integrative psychiatric care.

This episode begins with the foundation of his model: the inseparable connection between mind, metabolism, and meaning. Dr. Gupta explains that many individuals labeled “treatment-resistant” aren’t resistant at all — they’re experiencing disrupted sleep, erratic nourishment, ultra-processed diets, glucose instability, or chronic inflammation, all of which mimic or intensify psychiatric symptoms.

Dr. Tovar and Dr. Gupta take a deep dive into how GLP-1 medications reshape appetite, hormones, mood, and motivation — and why nutrient quality matters more than calorie quantity. They break down:

• What balanced nourishment looks like on GLP-1s
• Why protein-only messaging is misleading and potentially harmful
• How fiber, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats stabilize mood and protect metabolic health
• Why hunger cues disappear on GLP-1s — and why scheduled meals often become essential
• How whole-food, plant-forward eating supports natural GLP-1 production

The conversation also turns to alcohol, delayed gastric emptying, nausea, and why even one drink can hit harder on these medications. Dr. Gupta outlines clear, practical risk-reduction strategies and explains why cravings for alcohol may drop due to GLP-1 receptor activity in the brain.

Side effects take center stage as Dr. Tovar asks about the real-world symptoms patients report online: hair loss, constipation, black stools, vision changes, and emotional flattening. Dr. Gupta offers evidence-based guidance on titration, dosing, nausea management, texture-modified diets, magnesium, fiber, hydration, and when to hit pause or decrease dosage to protect both physical and psychological wellbeing.

Together, they illuminate the psychiatric red flags often missed in purely medical weight-loss settings — including emotional blunting, rapid body-image shifts, resurfacing trauma, compulsive tracking, and substitution behaviors like increased alcohol use.

This episode is essential listening for anyone using GLP-1 medications, thinking about them, or supporting someone who is. It blends psychiatry, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and compassionate mental-health care into one of the clearest, most practical conversations available anywhere.

About Dr. Vikas Gupta, want to know more about him here are his social medi

Thank you for joining us on this journey to wellness. Remember, the insights and advice shared on the ANEW Body Insight Podcast are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine. To learn more about the podcast and stay updated on new episodes, visit ANEW Body Insight Podcast at anew-insight.com. To watch this episode on YouTube, visit @my.anew.insight. Follow us on social media at @my.anew.insight on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads for more updates and insights. Thank you for tuning in! Stay connected with us for more empowering stories and expert guidance. Until next time, stay well and keep evolving with ANEW Body Insight!