What We Carry. The Stigma of Living with Obesity with Dr. Robyn Pashby

In this episode of the Transformation Weight Control podcast, hosts Rich and Alex engage with Dr. Robyn Pashby, a Clinical and Medical Health Psychologist, to discuss the complex interplay between living with obesity, as well as the connection between obesity stigma/bias and physical and mental health. They explore the trauma associated with living with the chronic disease of obesity and how emotional eating is one of the ways we learn to survive. Dr. Pashby emphasizes the need for compassionate treatment approaches that help recognize and destigmatize the psychological burdens and trauma that individuals "carry", frequently for a lifetime, from living with the chronic disease of obesity.

 The conversation also touches on the divide between eating disorders and disordered eating, highlighting the need for integrated care that addresses both issues.

Dr. Pashby shares insights from her research, clinical practice, and personal experiences, advocating for championing mental health when it comes to the shame and guilt of living with obesity as a chronic disease, finding meaningful connections, and boosting the productivity of your life.

How to reach Dr. Pashby in her clinical practice: https://www.healthpsychologypartners.com/ https://www.healthpsychologypartners.com/robyn-pashby Dr. Pashby's book: The New Food Fight: How the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Fields Became So Divided and What We Can Do About It, by Marian Tanofsky-Kraff Natasha A. Schvey Robyn O. Pashby and Natasha L. Burke https://www.amazon.com/New-Food-Fight-Management-Disorder/dp/0197752535/ref=sr_1_1

Dr. Pashby's video, “What We Carry” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jP9puLTXNM - A talk that explores the emotional and psychological burdens of shame, stigma, and self-doubt often associated with weight and health.

Rich Weil can be reached at rich@transformationweightcontrol.com
www.transformationweightcontrol.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Transformation Weight Control Podcast
• 2:40 Understanding Weight Bias and Stigma
• 5:13 The Role of Research in Clinical Practice
• 8:01 Emotional Eating: Insights from Research
• 10:55 The Complexity of Emotional Eating
• 13:36 Exploring Coping Mechanisms Beyond Food
• 16:33 Obesity as a Chronic Disease
• 19:13 Food Addiction and Its Implications
• 21:49 The Reward System and Food
• 24:25 The New Food Fight: Addressing Divisions in Weight Management
• 27:27 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
• 34:13 The Divide in Eating Disorders and Obesity Research
• 36:04 Understanding Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating
• 37:40 The Impact of Stigma on Treatment
• 38:25 What We Carry: A Personal Journey
• 40:48 The Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma
• 43:24 The Trauma of Living with Obesity
• 52:50 The Health Consequences of Internalized Bias
• 56:25 Strategies for Managing Internalized Bias