In this episode, Physical Therapist and Owner of Healthy Phit Therapy & Wellness Consultants, Dr. Lisa Folden, talks about diet culture.

Today, Lisa talks about the pervasive nature of diet culture, how to reconcile diet culture with physical therapy recommendations, and how to support patients who are on their weight loss journey. What is diet culture?

Hear about weight biases and phobias and how to deal with them, the Health At Every Size movement, and get Lisa’s advice to her younger self, all on today’s episode of The Healthy, Wealthy & Smart Podcast.

Key Takeaway

“Diet culture is this pervasive thought process that we’re born into, that fosters the belief that we’re never enough – we’re never thin enough, we’re never healthy enough, we never got it right.”
“Diet culture is the constant reminder that something’s wrong - you need to fix it all the time.”
“Even if weight is causing some of the issue, the reality is, the research shows that weight loss doesn’t really work for most people. 95% of people who lose weight gain it all, plus more, back.”
“Weight loss is a by-product that some people will experience, and other people will not.”
“We think in our society that no one should be fat, and if they are fat, it’s because of poor health choices.”
How to challenge the weight bias:

Unlearn the idea that people in larger bodies are inherently unhealthy. It’s not going to help you make them feel better, and it’s not true for many people.
Think about accessibility. Considerations are made for people with various degrees of mobility, so ensuring that there’s appropriate furniture is a consideration for those with larger bodies.
Reassure patients. Especially when dealing with patients who have dealt with the weight stigma, it’s important to reassure patients that size variation isn’t a problem.

“I assume that their condition is caused by something other than their weight, and I treat them based on that.”
“We’re supposed to be different sizes, and we don’t have to lose weight to be healthy. You can be healthy at any size.”
“Stop telling your patients to lose weight, offer people in larger bodies the same treatment options you offer people in smaller bodies, and don’t shy away from manually and physically examining them because of their body weight.”
“It’s going to be okay.”

More about Lisa Folden

Dr. Lisa N. Folden is a licensed physical therapist, mom-focused lifestyle coach, and the owner of Healthy Phit Physical Therapy & Wellness Consultants in Charlotte, NC.

As a body positive women’s health expert and health at every size (HAES) ambassador, Dr. Folden assists women seeking a healthier lifestyle by guiding their wellness choices through organization, planning strategies, and holistic goal setting. Dr. Folden is a mom of three, published author, and speaker who understands the complex needs of the modern busy woman. Therefore, she considers helping busy moms find their ‘healthy’ as one of her of top priorities.

Dr. Lisa is a regular contributor to articles on topics related to physical therapy, health, wellness, self-care, motherhood, body positivity, and pregnancy, and has had the distinct honor of being featured in Oprah Magazine, Shape Magazine, Livestrong, Bustle, and several other local & national publications. Additionally, she is a member of the National Association of Black Physical Therapists, the Association of Size Diversity & Health, The Know Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and serves as an expert panelist for H.E.R. Health Collective (2021).

Suggested Keywords

Diet Culture, Weight Loss, Body Positivity, Acceptance, Stigma, Body Size, Fitness, PT, Physiotherapy, Symptoms, Healthy, Wealthy, Smart

Resources:

Health At Every Size Community

To learn more, follow Lisa at:

Website: https://www.healthyphit.com

Facebook: Healthy Phit

Twitter: @HealthyPhitPT

Instagram: @healthyphit

Pinterest: @HealthyPhit

YouTube: HealthyPhit PT

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Read the full Transcript Here: