073. Understanding Binge Eating Disorder with Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross

In today's episode, Dylan sits down with Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross, physician, international speaker, and author specializing in eating disorders and addictions. She has an online program for people with food addiction, binge eating and emotional eating, and focuses on treating Black women with eating disorders. Carolyn also does antiracism consulting with treatment facilities. And she LOVES carnitas tacos!   In this episode you'll hear: Dr. Ross shares a little more about what she does, who she helps and how she got involved in the eating disorder side of medicine (2:12) So many diseases have a direct relationship to what we eat, and for the most part addiction and nutrition are not taught in depth in medical school. Dr. Ross explains how physicians preach the same old song that you need to lose weight to be healthy, and why this perspective isn't inclusive or very constructive for many people. Instead she has a more lifestyle approach to healthcare and eating because diets do not work (5:36) What is binge eating and emotional eating according to Dr. Ross? She shares how the term has received diagnostic criteria in recent years but it is still part of a large spectrum. In her opinion, the root of all eating disorders is situated within childhood trauma and experiences (10:02) It is possible to talk about trauma, process it and determine how food fits into your healing process according to Dr. Ross. She shares what traits and experiences her clients have felt when dealing with food and emotions (16:22) What helps people reconnect with their emotions? Dr. Ross believes in guided imagery, breathwork, and how you need to reconnect with how your emotions feel in your body. She explains how women are more often than not impacted by this disconnect between food and emotions (20:31) How do guilt and self blame come into play with disordered eating patterns? According to Dr. Ross, society tends to echo this narrative of self blame and while medicine doesn't have a magical fix it pill, there is an approach to healing that doesn't focus on weight or size (23:43)   Website: www.carolynrossmd.com     Links: Spring/Summer Recipe Book FREE Method Nutrition on Instagram Dylan on Instagram Work with our team