The End of Obesity? What Happens When Biology Meets Modern Medicine with Zayna Khayat

Obesity isn’t new—but the way we understand it is changing fast.

In this powerful and practical episode of Sense Making Conversations, health futurist Zayna Khayat joins Andrea Sampson to explore how modern medicine is disrupting one of the biggest public health crises of our time. With new therapies like GLP-1 agonists reshaping the obesity landscape, we may be on the edge of a dramatic shift in how we define—and deliver—health.

But this conversation goes far beyond weight loss. Together, Zayna and Andrea unpack how human biology, engineered food systems, sedentary lifestyles, and decades of cultural messaging collided to create the obesity crisis—and what a post-obesity world could mean for everything from healthcare and mental health to stigma, equity, and the global food economy.

If you care about the future of health, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. ___________________________________

Zayna Khayat is a globally recognized health futurist and system innovator, known for translating complex health trends into actionable insights for institutions, policymakers, and individuals. With a PhD in molecular genetics and a background that spans academia, healthcare strategy, public policy, and exponential technology, Zayna brings a uniquely systems-level view to the future of human health.

She’s worked with organizations such as SE Health, MaRS Discovery District, and Teladoc Health Canada, and currently teaches health sector strategy at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Zayna is also a faculty member with Singularity University and is actively involved in helping shape new models for healthcare delivery and public well-being.

The Future of Aging: https://www.amazon.com/Future-Aging-Shirlee-Sharkey/dp/0973081619/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=future+of+aging&qid=1583205788&sr=8-1

Find Zayna on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zkhayat/

Book Zayna to speak: https://calendly.com/andrea2910/speaker-booking-inquiry

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tfiNbR7X-40?si=7tHp-eXtWgRq3QTS 

Follow Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisandreasampson/

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