The Body Image Table Talk!
Regardless of why people come to us, we need to address Body Image. Natalie Katz, RD, MPH and Alyssa Callahan, MA, RD underscored why that is and set us firmly on a path to doing it this week.
Begin with the courage to know your own surprisingly likely Weight Bias- an essential first step (Try taking the Weight IAT). Then understand this unavoidability, this pervasiveness, the far-reaching damaging effects on people of all sizes- more so in the gender diverse population. A look at historic systemic oppression (see Sabrina Strings’ book in the resource list) explains lots of it.
Remember Body Image is fluid and we accept our bodies along a “Body Image Spectrum” (see slide). Try understanding Body Image challenges from the perspective of Maslow’ Hierarchy of Needs. Prioritize discussions of Fatphobia, the experiences one has had in their body from the beginning of treatment- don’t wait for acceptance to magically come w/o these ongoing discussions.
If you don’t have a chance to watch the video of this talk on the VFED website, then soak up their 3 slides on Strategies for Body Resilience that accompany this post (Don’t reassure fears of weight gain, Help find comfortable clothing). The Resource List is great, too.
Thanks, Natalie and Alyssa- this is Eating Disorder Treatment 101 and all of our work starts here.
Check out the slides of the presentation here (the last few slides are full of great tools to use with clients)