The Importance of Monitoring Progress in Weight Loss and Body Fat Myths Busted: The Truth About Percentages with Dr. Ben Gonzalez

If you want real, honest conversation and practical advice to help you look, feel, and live better, you’re in the right place. Join me as we bust some body fat myths and share what it really takes to achieve healthy returns.

Welcome to Healthy Returns! I’m Sharon Polsky, and in today’s episode, I get to sit down with one of my favorite people, Dr. Ben Gonzalez, medical director of Atlantis Medical Wellness Center. Dr. Gonzalez brings over twenty years of experience—and a practical, science-backed approach—to the topics of body fat, longevity, and functional medicine.

If you’ve ever been caught up in fixating on your weight or BMI, this episode is for you. We dig into the real story behind body fat: the difference between visceral fat (the dangerous belly fat), subcutaneous fat, and overall body fat percentage. Dr. Gonzalez and I break down why visceral fat is the real culprit behind preventable diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and dementia, and why focusing on consistent trends—rather than numbers on the scale—is far more important for your long-term health.

We also unravel the myths about body composition analysis, explain why waist-to-height ratio is one of the best indicators you should track, and share actionable tips for both patients and practitioners. Along the way, we dive into why functional medicine is finally having its moment, explore the evolving role of GLP-1 medications, and talk about how emotional and social well-being are crucial for lasting change.

Moments

00:00 "Body Fat Insights with Dr. Gonzalez"

06:06 Rethinking Weight & Body Fat

06:56 "Weight Isn’t Health’s Best Measure"

12:40 Ensuring Consistent Scanning Conditions

14:48 Body Scanner Calibration Accuracy

17:04 Body Composition: No Gold Standard

20:41 Harmful Fat Drives Disease

24:46 "Hormonal Roller Coaster Simplified"

28:46 Visceral Fat and Disease Prevention

31:43 "Waist-to-Height Ratio Insights"

35:47 Three Pillars of Well-Being

36:48 Sleep, Stress & Client Wellness

42:27 GLP1 Providers and Weight Loss

46:01 "Invest Fully in Long-Term Health"

47:08 Medication Transition and Weight Management

Key Takeaways:

• Visceral Fat > Subcutaneous Fat: Forget obsessing over total body fat percentage—the real health risk is visceral fat, the kind stored around your organs. This metabolically harmful fat drives inflammation, insulin resistance, and increases risks for heart disease, diabetes, and more.
• Consistency > “Gold Standard”: Whether using BIA scales, DEXA, or calipers, no tool is perfect. What matters most is consistent scanning conditions and tracking trends over time. The actual percentage is less important than seeing positive progress in your personal benchmarks.
• Waist-to-Height Ratio = Accessible Vital Sign: One of the most powerful (and simple!) indicators of metabolic health is your waist-to-height ratio, which outperforms BMI and helps both providers and patients focus on true disease prevention.

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Until next time, stay inspired, stay informed, and let’s...