A traumatic experience may be holding you back from developing a healthier relationship with food.  Feeling out of control when you eat. Eating until you’re uncomfortably full. Experiencing shame or embarrassment at how much or what you’ve consumed.  These are all symptoms of binge eating disorder, which involves eating large amounts of food in a short period of time. If you suffer from this, you’re not alone.  Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder. But like other eating disorders, a relationship with food is not the only issue at play. Binge eating disorder ..read more

Here’s why kids and teens deserve better. “Stop trying to fix your body. It was never broken.” — Eve Ensler Nearly every pediatrician I have had the honor of collaborating with is genuinely passionate about supporting whole health in children, teens and families. This group of professionals is near and dear to my heart.  Pediatricians have a meaningful, yet difficult job.  Due to increasing time constraints and administrative duties in many healthcare settings, there is less time for doctors to spend with patients. They have more forms to complete, complex electronic record-keeping t ..read more

It is possible to be healthy no matter your size. That pain in your knee that just won’t go away. The wince you feel every time you bend down to pet your dog. The grinding feeling in your joints during long walks. You know you need to see a doctor. But every time you think about setting up an appointment, images from previous visits flash through your head: the way your heart raced as you stepped on the scale. The flush in your cheeks as you saw the number. The embarrassment you felt when the doctor glossed over your symptoms and told you that you just needed to lose weight. Come back in six m ..read more

A deep dive into purging behavior, associated diagnoses, and strategies for cessation. Eating disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. They affect individuals of all ages, gender, and cultural backgrounds. It’s a significant public health problem, and the numbers are quite alarming.  Unfortunately, cultural norms —of toxic dieting and fixation on weight— are making the problems worse. Despite the disheartening realities of eating disorders, getting help early is important because it leads to better outcomes.   Purging Behaviors  While there are too many harmful sympto ..read more

Thinking about jumping on the weight-loss drug trend?  Maybe you are tempted by what you have heard – promises of being successful in your pursuit of weight loss or reducing mental obsessions about food. However, it is worth considering some of the emerging reports of risks.  And please, use an abundance of caution if you have a history of an eating disorder.  “My fear is that there is now a belief that anyone can and should achieve a certain body shape and size with the help of these medications, so there’s going to be an even greater drive towards a certain body type…”  ..read more

“Hope is the cornerstone of recovery from eating disorders. It is the belief that change is possible and things will get better, and this hope can help you take the necessary steps to get there.” —Jenni Schaefer Eating disorders are serious life-threatening mental health problems. According to research, approximately 30 million people in the United States will have an eating disorder at some point in their life. That translates to around 10 percent of all Americans. Whether it’s anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, these conditions are harmful to your physical, emotion ..read more

Are you tired of yo-yo dieting?  “Neural plasticity not only allows us to learn and adapt, but also to heal.” —Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge from Star Trek: The Next Generation Wrestling with cravings, conflicted about what to eat, feeling like you’ll never be able to break free from the cycle of on-and-off dieting or establish positive eating habits for life? You are not alone—so many of us have been there. But did you know that research shows that making lifestyle changes based on an understanding of your own neuroplasticity can lead to lasting transformation in your eating habit ..read more

Learn how the lessons in The Four Agreements may lead to a healthier relationship to food and your body—and curb disordered eating Our self-talk can prop us up or hold us back, keep us going or slow our stroll. The words we say can be motivating and expansive, or they can be limiting and narrow. How we talk to ourselves impacts how we talk to others, of course. Interestingly, our self-talk also impacts how we eat. It makes sense, then, that learning a language based in truth, compassion, and love is beneficial. As is following a code of conduct that teaches us to be authentic. One renowned bo ..read more

If you are struggling with food or an eating disorder, these helpful points may offer you the nudge you need to change your relationship to food.  Many people with eating disorders look healthy. The good news is that the science of epigenetics tells us that having an eating disorder is not inevitable based on your genes alone.  Regardless of weight, positive body image predicts better health outcomes and protects against disordered eating.  Eating disorders in boys and men continue to be under-recognized, even though they experience higher mortality rates. 1 death every 52 minu ..read more

Quiet the Urge to Eat Impulsively or Mindlessly, or to Start a Diet This post is more personal than most because meditation impacts me on a daily basis. I have been studying mindfulness and meditation since high school. However, in the past 10 years, meditating has become an important component of my daily self-care rituals. But this is not about me, it is about one more evidence-based habit you can practice on your path to finding food freedom and other benefits as well.   What is meditation? “The term meditation refers to a family of self-regulation practices that focus on training ..read more