Recent Posts

When Healthcare Disempowers: The Problem of Personal Agency

How the good intentions that abound in (mental) healthcare can slide into disempowerment of the individuals who access it.

How the good intentions that abound in (mental) healthcare can slide into disempowerment of the individuals who access it.

Fixing Isn’t Healing: Self-Acceptance Is

What if healing from trauma, negative body image, or even eating disorders wasn’t about fixing yourself but accepting yourself?

What if healing from trauma, negative body image, or even eating disorders wasn’t about fixing yourself but accepting yourself?

Quieting the Food Noise

Struggling with constant thoughts about food? Learn how to quiet the “food noise,” reconnect with your body, and find peace in your relationship with eating.

Struggling with constant thoughts about food? Learn how to quiet the “food noise,” reconnect with your body, and find peace in your relationship with eating.

Eating Disorders Are on the Rise and It's Alarming

Personal Perspective: Eating disorders are on the rise since the pandemic. From my own experience with anorexia, I know how these disorders can turn tragic.

Personal Perspective: Eating disorders are on the rise since the pandemic. From my own experience with anorexia, I know how these disorders can turn tragic.

How Social Media Impacts Psychiatric Symptoms

A new systematic review finds social media use can aggravate the symptoms of psychiatric disorders.

A new systematic review finds social media use can aggravate the symptoms of psychiatric disorders.

Preventing Disordered Eating in Kids With Type 1 Diabetes

A new study explores how a brief psychoeducational intervention for parents may help prevent disordered eating in children with Type 1 Diabetes.

A new study explores how a brief psychoeducational intervention for parents may help prevent disordered eating in children with Type 1 Diabetes.

The Pitfalls of Being "Health" Obsessed

With so much media focus on healthful eating, there is a tendency to demonize certain foods. Before you jump on the bandwagon, consider the potential risks.

With so much media focus on healthful eating, there is a tendency to demonize certain foods. Before you jump on the bandwagon, consider the potential risks.

Eating Disorder Recovery

Shifting perspective can be the key to letting go of the grip eating disorders and body obsession have on your life.

Shifting perspective can be the key to letting go of the grip eating disorders and body obsession have on your life.

Why Eating Disorder Hospitalizations Are Rising Among Men

The hospitalization rates for young men with eating disorders have increased by over 400% since 2000. Still, eating disorders are stigmatized and seen as a “women’s issue."

The hospitalization rates for young men with eating disorders have increased by over 400% since 2000. Still, eating disorders are stigmatized and seen as a “women’s issue."

The Psychology of Addiction and Obesity: New Treatments

Addiction and obesity share deep neurological roots. Can new treatments like GLP-1 drugs and MEAI help break the cycle? Explore the latest science behind these conditions.

Addiction and obesity share deep neurological roots. Can new treatments like GLP-1 drugs and MEAI help break the cycle? Explore the latest science behind these conditions.

Rigid Thinking Fuels Both Eating Disorders and PTSD

Both eating disorders and PTSD involve rigid thinking. Recovery requires cognitive flexibility, to help individuals broaden their perspective and move beyond unhelpful behaviors.

Both eating disorders and PTSD involve rigid thinking. Recovery requires cognitive flexibility, to help individuals broaden their perspective and move beyond unhelpful behaviors.

How Deadly Are Eating Disorders?

Mental disorders differ in how deadly they are. One of the most dangerous groups of mental disorders is eating disorders. A new meta-analysis investigated how deadly they are.

Mental disorders differ in how deadly they are. One of the most dangerous groups of mental disorders is eating disorders. A new meta-analysis investigated how deadly they are.

Do You Hate What You See in Your Mirror?

Are you convinced that your physical flaws make you unlovable and disgusting? You may have body dysmorphic disorder.

Are you convinced that your physical flaws make you unlovable and disgusting? You may have body dysmorphic disorder.

Why You Should Stop Commenting on People’s Weight

As a psychologist who struggled with weight and body image, here is both a personal and psychological account of why you should never comment on someone's weight.

As a psychologist who struggled with weight and body image, here is both a personal and psychological account of why you should never comment on someone's weight.

Confronting Eating Fears: Breaking the Cycle

Gradually facing fears tied to persistent, distressing thoughts about eating, body size, and shape is essential for successful eating disorder recovery.

Gradually facing fears tied to persistent, distressing thoughts about eating, body size, and shape is essential for successful eating disorder recovery.

"Just Stop Eating When You Are Full Like I Do! Easy-Peasy!"

Couples therapy helps partners of people with eating issues learn to be supportive. c

Couples therapy helps partners of people with eating issues learn to be supportive. c

Help! My Partner Is Binge Eating Right Now

Partners of people with eating disorders try to help based on common sense, but they inevitably do or say the wrong thing.

Partners of people with eating disorders try to help based on common sense, but they inevitably do or say the wrong thing.

How Junk Food Really Affects Your Brain

Short-term munching, long-term weakened resistance.

Short-term munching, long-term weakened resistance.

The Best (and Worst) Times of the Day to Eat

The body is not a 24/7 furnace. Caloric timing matters.

The body is not a 24/7 furnace. Caloric timing matters.

Common Disordered Eating Behaviors That Society Normalizes

The normalization of disordered eating behaviors, and sometimes even their glamorization, can make it difficult to recognize them as harmful.

The normalization of disordered eating behaviors, and sometimes even their glamorization, can make it difficult to recognize them as harmful.

Is It Time for a Paradigm Shift in Eating Disorder Treatment?

At a recent eating disorders, I challenged attendees to imagine a paradigm shift in treatment for patients who haven't found success with the traditional model of care.

At a recent eating disorders, I challenged attendees to imagine a paradigm shift in treatment for patients who haven't found success with the traditional model of care.

Why Dieting Is Bad for Your Mental Health

The hidden psychological costs of dieting can exacerbate anxiety and depression. Learn to shift toward more compassionate approaches that prioritize well-being.

The hidden psychological costs of dieting can exacerbate anxiety and depression. Learn to shift toward more compassionate approaches that prioritize well-being.

Is It Disordered Eating or OCD?

When do food and eating rituals signal an eating disorder, and when is it OCD? The distinction is critical—and frequently often misunderstood.

When do food and eating rituals signal an eating disorder, and when is it OCD? The distinction is critical—and frequently often misunderstood.

What Do You Like About the Way You Look?

Can you tell me three things you love about your appearance? For most people, it's hard. Here are five tips for improving your body image in an era of dissatisfaction.

Can you tell me three things you love about your appearance? For most people, it's hard. Here are five tips for improving your body image in an era of dissatisfaction.

Menopause and Disordered Eating: What You Should Know

Hormonal and health changes in later life can affect mental health and eating habits, increasing the risk of disordered eating or eating disorders in older adults.

Hormonal and health changes in later life can affect mental health and eating habits, increasing the risk of disordered eating or eating disorders in older adults.

Clinical Obesity: Implications for Treatment of Eating Disorders

Is obesity a risk factor or a disease? This debate shapes treatments, policies, and eating disorder care. Explore its impact and the latest medical perspectives.

Is obesity a risk factor or a disease? This debate shapes treatments, policies, and eating disorder care. Explore its impact and the latest medical perspectives.

The Problem With Weight Loss Compliments

Praise for someone’s appearance after losing weight can inadvertently reinforce harmful societal standards. It can also perpetuate poor body image and an unhealthy relationship with food.

Praise for someone’s appearance after losing weight can inadvertently reinforce harmful societal standards. It can also perpetuate poor body image and an unhealthy relationship with food.

The Invisibility of Disordered Eating in Heavier Bodies

We miss the signs of disordered eating in heavier bodies due to stigmas about "health" and stereotypes of what eating disorders look like.

We miss the signs of disordered eating in heavier bodies due to stigmas about "health" and stereotypes of what eating disorders look like.

The Importance of Families in Eating Disorder Recovery

Family involvement plays a key role in eating disorder recovery. Families can help create a structured, supportive environment that fosters healing and long-term recovery.

Family involvement plays a key role in eating disorder recovery. Families can help create a structured, supportive environment that fosters healing and long-term recovery.

Fairy Tale or Trap? How Beauty Ideals Imprint Young Brains

Why do beauty standards feel inescapable? Neuroscience and epigenetics reveal how our brains imprint cultural ideals—shaping body image and eating behaviors for life.

Why do beauty standards feel inescapable? Neuroscience and epigenetics reveal how our brains imprint cultural ideals—shaping body image and eating behaviors for life.