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Introduction
Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors represent complex, multifaceted challenges that affect individuals across all demographics, yet they remain widely misunderstood and under-recognized. These issues often extend beyond the stereotypical images associated with eating disorders, touching everything from rigid “clean eating” obsessions to the normalized extremes of diet culture.
At the heart of these behaviors lies a disruption in one’s relationship with food, often fueled by societal pressures, unrealistic body ideals, and a pervasive focus on aesthetics over health. While these challenges are tenacious, recovery and improved relationships with food are possible with the right interventions, resources, and awareness.
In this episode, Danny talks to Dr. Jillian Lampert, a registered dietitian with a PhD in public health nutrition, with a speciality in eating disorders and disordered eating.
Related resources
- Join the Sigma newsletter for free
- Subscribe to Sigma Nutrition Premium
- Enroll in the next cohort of our Applied Nutrition Literacy course
- The Emily Program
- Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, & Action (EDC)
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders
- [02:56]What are eating disorders? a breakdown of core concepts
- [05:15]Beyond stereotypes: the widespread impact of eating disorders
- [14:41]Disordered eating in sports and fitness: risks and realities
- [19:41]Guidance for practitioners: recognizing and addressing red flags
- [22:50]Barriers in treating eating disorders: challenges and solutions
- [43:50]Advocacy and systemic change: the future of eating disorder care
The Hosts
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With over 25 years of experience, she has become a leading voice in nutrition education and eating disorder prevention, treatment, and advocacy.
Dr. Lampert holds dual Master’s degrees in Public Health and Nutritional Sciences, as well as a PhD in Public Health Nutrition. She is a registered and licensed dietitian, a Fellow at the Academy for Eating Disorders, and has been a vital member of The Emily Program, a leading eating disorder treatment provider, for over 19 years.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Lampert brings a deeply personal perspective to her work as a survivor of disordered eating herself. She is particularly passionate about understanding the factors that contribute to the development of disordered eating, including societal pressures, sports culture, and body image.
Danny Lennon has a master’s degree (MSc.) in Nutritional Sciences from University College Cork, and he is the founder of Sigma Nutrition.
Danny is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Sports Nutrition Association, the global regulatory body responsible for the standardisation of best practice in the sports nutrition profession.
Introduction to this Episode
Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors represent complex, multifaceted challenges that affect individuals across all demographics, yet they remain widely misunderstood and under-recognized. These issues often extend beyond the stereotypical images associated with eating disorders, touching everything from rigid “clean eating” obsessions to the normalized extremes of diet culture.
At the heart of these behaviors lies a disruption in one’s relationship with food, often fueled by societal pressures, unrealistic body ideals, and a pervasive focus on aesthetics over health. While these challenges are tenacious, recovery and improved relationships with food are possible with the right interventions, resources, and awareness.
In this episode, Danny talks to Dr. Jillian Lampert, a registered dietitian with a PhD in public health nutrition, with a speciality in eating disorders and disordered eating.
Useful Terminology for this Episode
| Key Terms & Acronyms |
| Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM): Comprehensive classification system developed by the American Psychiatric Association. It provides standardized criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions, including eating disorders, and serves as a critical reference for healthcare professionals worldwide.
International Classification of Diseases (ICD): Globally recognized diagnostic tool published by the World Health Organization. It provides codes and criteria for a wide range of health conditions, including mental health disorders, enabling consistent tracking, diagnosis, and treatment across countries and healthcare systems. Anorexia Nervosa: Severe eating disorder characterized by intense fear of gaining weight, persistent restriction of energy intake, and a distorted perception of body size or shape. Bulimia Nervosa: Eating disorder marked by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or the misuse of laxatives or diuretics. Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Clinically recognized eating disorder involving frequent episodes of consuming unusually large quantities of food in a short period, accompanied by a sense of loss of control. Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED): Category of eating disorders that do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for specific disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Eating disorder characterized by restrictive or avoidant eating patterns that result in nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, or psychosocial impairment. Diet Culture: Societal framework that prioritizes thinness and appearance over health and well-being, often equating weight loss with success and moral virtue. Diet culture promotes restrictive eating, body dissatisfaction, and unrealistic beauty standards, contributing to the normalization of disordered eating behaviors. |
