97: How Do We Talk About Bodies and Diet Culture Online? with Ary Maharaj of NEDIC

With every new year, we get absolutely bombarded by diet ads, fitness discounts, gym memberships (even if gyms are closed during lockdowns), and constant messaging about what our bodies are worth. Even when expected, it's incredibly overwhelming. So how can we practice more conscious language and information sharing about our bodies, foods, and diet cultures online? This week, I am chatting with Ary Maharaj, who's speaking as the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). Ary is a qualifying Registered Psychotherapist and a graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Education in Counselling and Psychotherapy program. Through his work at NEDIC, he's striving to take a preventative, proactive approach to helping people with their relationships with food and weight, while buffering them from developing eating disorders. In our conversation, we're talking about how younger generations face challenges online with pervasive messaging on Tik Tok and Instagram, how to approach conversations with friends and family members who make comments about any body changes we've had during the holidays, and how we can approach food and body image discussions online in more respectful, accessible, and supportive ways. I will just say before this interview starts, that we do talk about eating disorders throughout this, so please consider this and if you are in a good space to listen to these themes before continuing to listen. Resources:  NEDIC Helpine Services (Canada): Toll-Free: 1-866-NEDIC-20 (1-866-633-4220) Toronto: 416-340-4156  National Eating Disorders Association (US) NEDIC Website  NEDIC IG: @the_nedic