Food Psych #233: COVID-19 and Eating-Disorder Recovery, Plus How to Handle Weight Gain and Body Changes with Rachel Millner
Fat-positive psychologist and eating-disorder specialist Rachel Millner joins us to discuss how she navigated a changing body while helping clients in eating-disorder recovery, coping with discomfort in a larger body, how the Health At Every Size® community responded to her weight gain compared to the culture at large, teaching kids how to navigate diet culture and other forms of oppression, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how to navigate eating-disorder recovery while socially distanced from your support system because of COVID-19.
Rachel Millner is a fat-positive psychologist and activist, certified eating-disorder specialist, and Certified Body Trust® Provider. She specializes in working with adolescents and adults with all forms of eating disorders and those wanting to break free from diet culture. Rachel is in private practice in Bucks County, PA and sees clients virtually and in-person. She has given talks nationally on topics related to “atypical” anorexia, incorporating HAES and weight-inclusive care into clinical practice, and adapting clinical approaches to HAES. Find her online at RachelMillnerTherapy.com.
This episode is brought to you by ThredUP, the world’s largest online consignment and thrift store. Sell your old clothes and get new-to-you pieces at up to 90% off retail prices. Visit thredup.com/FOODPSYCH for 30% off your first purchase. Terms apply.
We Discuss:
What Rachel has been up to since her first appearance on Food Psych®
Weight-centricism in the eating-disorder-treatment field
How conventional healthcare ignores the evidence for HAES and weight-inclusive care
Moving from a weight-normative to a weight-inclusive approach as a healthcare practitioner
Why Christy refers to herself as an anti-diet dietitian
HAES as a radical and political approach to care
Having humility in the process of unlearning
How Rachel navigated changes in her body while helping clients in eating-disorder recovery
Working to accept our body changes rather than hiding and/or explaining them away
Being affected by others’ perceptions of our bodies, especially as helping professionals
How the HAES community responds to weight gain compared to diet culture, and Rachel’s personal experience of this
Coping with discomfort in a larger body
Community, and its importance in eating-disorder recovery
The increasing awareness of HAES and body positivity, particularly among youth
Teaching kids how to navigate diet culture and other forms of oppression
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
My book, Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating
Help spread the anti-diet message by subscribing to the podcast
Rachel’s first Food Psych episode
"Everything You Know About [O-word] is Wrong" (CW: O-words, descriptions of fat shaming, disordered eating behaviors, Wellness Diet)
This episode is brought to you by ThredUP, the world’s largest online consignment and thrift store. Sell your old clothes and get new-to-you pieces at up to 90% off retail prices. Visit thredup.com/FOODPSYCH for 30% off your first purchase. Terms apply.
Listener Question of the Week
How can a person navigate eating-disorder recovery when the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a change in their living environment and/or support network? Should we be concerned if we are eating more, less, or otherwise differently from usual? What are some resources for people who are struggling financially as a result of COVID-19? Why might immune-boosting foods or supplements potentially be harmful? What are the best ways that we can prevent the spread of COVID-19? What are the steps that we should take if we do become sick?
Resources Mentioned:
Recovered Living, and founder Kristie Amadio’s Food Psych episode
The Eating Disorder Center, and founder Jennifer Rollin’s Food Psych episode
Truly Real Nutrition, and founder Ayana Habtemariam’s Food Psych episode
Dana Falsetti’s Online Yoga Studio, and her Food Psych episode
More to Love Yoga, and founder Rachel Estapa’s Food Psych episodes #101 and #206
Curvy Yoga, and founder Anna Guest-Jelley’s Food Psych episode