Fat-positive dietitian Julie Duffy Dillon joins us to discuss common misconceptions about managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), how weight stigma harms people with PCOS, why you shouldn’t believe the hype about certain foods causing inflammation, the connection between PCOS and binge eating, the importance of considering that PCOS occurs in people of all genders, and so much more! Plus, Christy answers a listener question about the problems with a particular multi-level-marketing diet and the concept of “accountability” in the fitness world.

Julie Duffy Dillon is a Fat Positive Dietitian, Eating Disorder Specialist, and Food Behavior Expert who partners with people along their Food Peace journey. Julie began specializing in treating Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in 2005 after noticing the connection with weight bias and eating disorders. She sought training on the physiology and endocrinology from pioneering experts willing to not focus on weight loss and diets to treat the complicated condition. This insight has provided people with PCOS to advocate for their physical and emotional health without torturing themselves with diets.

Julie hosts the weekly podcast Love Food. It is a Dear Abby show for those with eating concerns hoping to rewrite their fate. Listeners pen a letter to food outlining their complicated relationship. Julie and sometimes a guest discuss solutions before Food writes back.

She speaks around the country about anti-diet approaches to PCOS while running a group practice in Greensboro North Carolina. She was the featured expert dietitian and PCOS expert on TLC's documentary My Big Fat Fabulous Life. Find her online at JulieDillonRD.com.

We Discuss:

• The effects of weight stigma in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) management and support

• PCOS and My Big Fat Fabulous Life

• Common misconceptions about PCOS management

• The psychological consequences of PCOS

• Julie’s practice-based evidence of PCOS management

• Research on PCOS and weight

• The updated evidence-based guidelines for PCOS management

• The role of omega-3 supplementation for people with PCOS

• Inflammation as it relates to PCOS

• Why inflammation and “anti-inflammatory diets” are the latest bogus diet trend

• Falsely blaming weight for medical conditions

• The effects of weight cycling on health

• Carbohydrate cravings among people with PCOS

• High insulin levels in people with PCOS and what that means

• Research on binge eating and PCOS

• Christy’s experience with a misdiagnosis of PCOS

• How sexism affects PCOS support from healthcare providers

• Current research that may change the way PCOS is diagnosed

• The importance of considering that PCOS occurs in people of all genders

• Why it is important to have gender-affirming care for all health conditions, including PCOS

Resources Mentioned

Some of the links below are affiliate links. Affiliates or not, we only recommend products and services that align with our values.

• Submit your questions for a chance to have them answered on the podcast!

• My online course, Intuitive Eating Fundamentals

• Help spread the anti-diet message by subscribing to the podcast

• Julie Duffy Dillon’s PCOS and Food Peace E-Course  

• Julie Duffy Dillon’s PCOS and Food Peace for Dietitians

• Julie Duffy Dillon and Kimmie Singh’s PCOS and Food Peace Podcast

• Julie’s exclusive bonus for Food Psych listeners that shares tips about advocating for better PCOS care

• Reality television show that featured Julie Duffy Dillon (CW: This show may contain the use of o-words, specific numbers, and possibly other fatphobic language and images)

• Research that reports people with PCOS likely have high insulin levels (CW: As with all scientific research, use of o-words, specific numbers, and possibly other fatphobic language)

• Research used to determine new recommended guidelines for people with PCOS (CW: As with all scientific research, use of o-words, specific numbers, and possibly other fatphobic language)

• Updated evidence-based guidelines for PCOS management (2018) (CW: As with all scientific research, use of o-words, specific numbers, and possibly other fatphobic language)

• Research about PCOS and binge eating (CW: As with all scientific research, use of o-words, specific numbers, and possibly other fatphobic language)

• Kimmie’s blog post responding to the assertion that people with PCOS should not receive a diagnosis unless they are trying to conceive

• Julie’s website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Listener Question of the Week

What is your opinion on programs like Beach Body, and should I stop using and paying for them? Why does this program make you feel bad about yourself? Why is it important to give yourself permission to walk away from programs like this? How is this program different from a diet? How is the concept of accountability related to diet culture? How is movement different from exercise? How are the business practices of these types of program unethical? How are these businesses harmful to the coaches and clients of these programs?

(Resources Mentioned:

• Food Psych episode with Julie Duffy Dillon about her relationship with food and being a Health at Every Size Dietitian

• Food Psych episode with Julie Duffy Dillon and Rebecca Skritchfield about dieting and Health at Every Size

• Food Psych episode with Jessi Haggerty that discusses joyful movement and healing from over-exercise

• My online course, Intuitive Eating Fundamentals

• John Oliver’s piece on multi-level marketing schemes

• Pre-order Christy’s book, Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating)