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class="g-logo-medium home-header__logo">TED</strong> Blog </a> </h1> </div> <div class="banner"> <div class="banner__container"> <a href="https://blog.ted.com" class="header-logo" title="TED Blog"> <strong class="g-logo-small banner__logo">TED</strong> Blog </a> <div class="secondary"> </div> <form id="ted-search-1" class="main-search" method="get" action="https://blog.ted.com"> <div class="main-search__content"> <input type="hidden" name="cat" value="blog_posts" /> <input class="main-search__input" type="text" name="s" value="" placeholder="Search..." /> <a href="javascript:document.getElementById('ted-search-1').submit();" class="main-search__button" > <i class="icon icon_search"></i> </a> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header>  <div id="content"> <div id="inner-content" class="wrap clearfix"> <div id="main" class="eightcol first clearfix" role="main"> <article id="post-117728" class="clearfix post-117728 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news-2 tag-adriana-galvan tag-gabriella-lascano tag-joshua-roman tag-katherine-saunders tag-maija-williams has-thumbnail not-featured even top i-0" role="article"> <header class="article-header"> <a href="https://blog.ted.com/category/news-2/" class="category-title">News</a> <h1 class="single-title" itemprop="headline">Inflection: The talks of TED Salon, presented in partnership with Novo Nordisk</h1> <div class="meta clearfix"> <div class="author-desc">Posted by: <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/brian-greene/" title="Posts by Brian Greene" class="author url fn" rel="author">Brian Greene</a>, <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/marialadias2/" title="Posts by Maria Ladias" class="author url fn" rel="author">Maria Ladias</a>, <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/oliverfriedman/" title="Posts by Oliver Friedman" class="author url fn" rel="author">Oliver Friedman</a> and <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/renaereints22/" title="Posts by Renae Reints" class="author url fn" rel="author">Renae Reints</a> <br> <time datetime="2024-12-2">December 2, 2024 at 10:10 am EST</time> </div> <div class="share"> </div> </div> </header>  <section class="entry-content clearfix"> <div id="attachment_117740" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117740" class="size-full wp-image-117740" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_2GT0693-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_2GT0693-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_2GT0693-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_2GT0693-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_2GT0693-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_2GT0693-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117740" class="wp-caption-text">Sally Kohn hosts TED Salon: Inflection, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, at the TED Theater in New York City on November 19, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>We’ve reached a pivot point in the global conversation about our bodies. In an evening of talks, four speakers delved into how science and innovation are reshaping our understanding of well-being, health and what’s possible as we age.</p> <p><strong>The event</strong>: TED Salon: Inflection, curated and hosted by Sally Kohn, and presented in partnership with Novo Nordisk</p> <p><strong>When and where</strong>: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the TED Theater in New York City</p> <p><strong>Speakers</strong>: Katherine Saunders, Maija Williams, Adriana Galván, Gabriella Lascano</p> <p><strong>The talks in brief</strong>:</p> <div id="attachment_117735" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117735" class="size-full wp-image-117735" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0293-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0293-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0293-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0293-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0293-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0293-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117735" class="wp-caption-text">Katherine Saunders speaks at TED Salon: Inflection, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, at the TED Theater in New York City on November 19, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p><strong>Katherine Saunders</strong>, obesity physician</p> <p>“Obesity isn’t just a lack of willpower,” says doctor <strong>Katherine Saunders</strong> — it’s a complex, chronic disease. Unpacking the science of why it’s so easy to gain weight (and so hard to lose it), she explains the evolutionary adaptations that have contributed to 42 percent of adults in the US qualifying as obese. She outlines the modern frontier of obesity treatment, including lifestyle interventions and new, powerful medications.</p> <div id="attachment_117736" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117736" class="size-full wp-image-117736" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0563-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0563-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0563-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0563-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0563-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0563-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117736" class="wp-caption-text">Maija Williams speaks at TED Salon: Inflection, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, at the TED Theater in New York City on November 19, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p><strong>Maija Williams</strong>, health equity champion</p> <p>In a powerful personal narrative and slam poem, healthcare executive <strong>Maija Williams</strong> exposes the stark disparities in the current system, recounting her experience dealing with a dangerous medical emergency. She delivers a passionate call to action all of us to recognize health care as a fundamental right that must be delivered equitably.</p> <div id="attachment_117737" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117737" class="size-full wp-image-117737" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0915-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0915-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0915-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0915-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0915-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0915-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117737" class="wp-caption-text">Adriana Galván speaks at TED Salon: Inflection, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, at the TED Theater in New York City on November 19, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p><strong>Adriana Galván</strong>, neuroscientist</p> <p>Teenagers’ brains are built for growth, adaptability and calculated risk-taking, explains psychology professor and neuroscientist Adriana Galván. Drawing on 25 years of neuroscience research, she shares three powerful lessons from brain development during adolescence about embracing uncertainty, challenging the status quo and thriving on change — to help us all navigate our own lives more boldly.</p> <div id="attachment_117738" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117738" class="size-full wp-image-117738" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT1100-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT1100-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT1100-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT1100-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT1100-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT1100-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117738" class="wp-caption-text">Gabriella Lascano TED Salon: Inflection, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, at the TED Theater in New York City on November 19, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p><strong>Gabriella Lascano</strong>, body positivity pioneer</p> <p><strong>Gabriella Lascano</strong> rose to prominence as a plus-size influencer, advocating for respect at any size with her natural blend of confidence and self-love. She shares how the death of a friend inspired a candid reassessment of her own health, sparking a viral conversation about balancing body acceptance with the complexities of weight, obesity and self-care.</p> <div id="attachment_117741" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117741" class="size-full wp-image-117741" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0153-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0153-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0153-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0153-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0153-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TEDSalon_Inflection_20241119_1GT0153-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117741" class="wp-caption-text">Joshua Roman performs at TED Salon: Inflection, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, at the TED Theater in New York City on November 19, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>Showing off his instrumental versatility, cellist <strong>Joshua Roman</strong> performs a rendition of “Julie-O” by Mark Summer and his own composition, “Immunity.”</p> <div class="meta clearfix"> <div class="share"> </div> </div> </section>  <div class="article-footer"> <div class="tags"><div class="tags-title meta-title">Tags for this story:</div><div class="tag-list clearfix"><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/adriana-galvan/" rel="tag">Adriana Galván</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/gabriella-lascano/" rel="tag">Gabriella Lascano</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/joshua-roman/" rel="tag">Joshua Roman</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/katherine-saunders/" rel="tag">Katherine Saunders</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/maija-williams/" rel="tag">Maija Williams</a></div></div> </div>  </article> </div>  <div id="sidebar1" class="sidebar fourcol last clearfix" role="complementary"> <div id="nav_menu-4" class="widget widget_nav_menu"><div class="title">Follow TED</div><div class="menu-social-sidebar-container"><ul id="menu-social-sidebar" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-89070" class="soc-twitter soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89070"><a href="http://twitter.com/tedtalks">Twitter</a></li> <li id="menu-item-89073" class="soc-instagram soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89073"><a href="http://instagram.com/ted">Instagram</a></li> <li id="menu-item-89074" class="soc-youtube soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89074"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/ted">YouTube</a></li> <li id="menu-item-89076" class="soc-mail soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89076"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TEDBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to TED Blog by email</a></li> </ul></div></div><div id="acm_ad_zones-4" class="widget acm_ad_zones"><div id='acm-ad-tag-advertisement' style="esc_attr( )"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('acm-ad-tag-advertisement'); 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