Why weight-inclusive care changes everything for athletes with Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQ

What is weight-inclusive care? And why does it matter for *all* active women's health and performance?Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Heather Bergeson, a sports‑medicine physician and co‑director of the TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program, to unpack five decades of fitness and diet fads. Past trends still shape today's wellness culture — and even if you think you're immune, you're not.Key TakeawaysFollow the evolution of fitness and diet fads from the 1970s thin‑ideal to today’s protein-heavy, weighted‑vests—and understand how each era reinforces or challenges body‑image norms.Why BMI is an unreliable health metric and how weight‑inclusive care improves patient outcomes and satisfaction.Actionable steps for clinicians and coaches (e.g., avoid routine weighing, use neutral language, provide size‑accessible equipment)And practical tips for listeners to break free from diet culture: ditch diet apps, focus on intuitive eating, prioritize sleep, and limit comparison‑driven fitness tracking.Episode Resources:TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program: https://www.healthpartners.com/care/tria-orthopedics/services/womens-sports-medicine/FeistyFest Info: https://livefeisty.com/events/feisty-fest/Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter: https://livefeisty.com/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceSupport our Partners:Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/0GAByRTifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Orca: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYoIf you found this conversation valuable, hit subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review on your favorite platform. Have questions or topics you’d like us to explore? DM us on Instagram.