Tag: Health At Every Size
What is Weight Stigma
June 4th, 2019 by Sara Upson
Weight stigma is defined as negative thoughts, attitudes, devaluation and social rejection of a person because their body shape or size doesn’t comply with the cultural norms (from diet culture) about what a body “should” look like. Weight stigma also includes: stereotypes about people who live in larger bodies, bullying and teasing, nasty comments, being […]
Ending the Legacy of Dieting
October 8th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Several years ago I was at an eating disorder conference where one of the presenters showed a video clip from Oprah about a very young girl (I think 5 -6 years old) who had anorexia nervosa. They interviewed the mom in the video and she repeatedly stated that she had no idea where the daughter […]
Sometimes people get really mad when I talk about orthorexia. Like shouting match loud and mad. “How can healthy eating be a problem? Next you’re going to say that it’s fine to eat fast food…” And the truth is- it’s fine to eat fast food. I’m not saying you should eat it every day […]
4 Truths About Binge Eating Disorder
April 23rd, 2018 by Sara Upson
Last month I attended the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals Conference in Orlando, Florida. I had a great time learning more about new findings in the treatment of eating disorders and connecting with other clinicians. During the conference there is also an exhibit hall where treatment centers and businesses related to the care of […]
Wondering what it’s like to intern with a weight neutral, eating disorder dietitian? Here’s what two interns had to say.
March 15th, 2018 by Sara Upson
This blog is written by two interns in the coordinated program at Stephen F. Austin State University. To become a dietitian you must complete a 1200 hour supervised internship and both interns spent two weeks with me fulfilling hours towards that time. At the end of their rotation I asked them to write a […]
If there’s one thing I’m tired of hearing people say it’s “that food has no nutritional value.” {facepalm} I do get it. You’re saying that food doesn’t offer a lot of nutrition, it doesn’t have a lot of vitamins and minerals, it’s “empty calories.” BUT you don’t eat calories. You don’t eat vitamins and […]
Are you focusing on these 4 areas and unintentionally promoting disordered eating?
March 5th, 2018 by Sara Upson
I would hope that no one would intentionally promote an eating disorder or disordered eating. I know it happens, but I’d like to believe that it’s ignorance- that someone just doesn’t understand how normalized disordered eating is, how common eating disorders are, or how they’re the deadliest mental illness. I see this all the time […]
Confused About What Exactly Is An ‘Eating Disorder Behavior?’ Blame Diet Culture
February 16th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness. Per the National Institute on Mental Health, they have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. Sadly, the false beliefs about eating disorders are rampant and diet culture makes it more confusing by normalizing eating disorder behaviors. You could even go as far as calling diet culture […]
You Don’t Have To Diet
January 25th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Did you know that you don’t have to diet? It’s true, you don’t. You don’t have to diet* or restrict your eating. (And by diet I mean any type of restrictive eating pattern including paleo, keto, clean eating, whole 30, etc.) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say I had no […]
My daughter loves Curious George- she had a Curious George birthday party, was George for Halloween and loves the show. As a result I’ve seen every episode + movie multiple, multiple times. Sometimes he’s annoying, but that little monkey has a lot of wisdom to offer too…even when it comes to food, nutrition and diet […]
Diet Culture 101
May 20th, 2017 by Sara Upson
Do you know what diet culture is? Most people don’t, yet we live in it daily! We have become so inundated with diet culture that it just seems normal. However, it’s time to end diet culture- or at least drop out of it- so that we can stop focusing on weight, shape, and size over […]
