Weight Stigma with Dr. Christie Bennett

Understanding Body Matters Podcast

On this week’s episode I am super excited to be introducing you to our next special guest Co- founder of ‘Eat Love Live’, researcher and lecturer, Dr. Christie Bennett. Christie currently works at Monash University as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food and is a Research Fellow of The Higher Education Academy at Monash University. Christie is also an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician with an expertise in eating disorders, disordered eating and its intersection with women’s health including in fertility, pregnancy and PCOS. Since completing her PhD, Christie has worked towards bringing together her clinical and research interests. Continuing to conduct research, investigating the role of nutrition and dietetics pedagogy on disordered eating in students and those impacted by fat phobia. In 2023, she was awarded a School of Clinical Sciences Career Development Fellowship to investigate the barriers and enablers of using client input in health care education. Where she is continuing to research educational interventions to improve inclusivity in dietetics and healthcare more broadly.

On this week's episode we will be speaking about the topic of fat phobia also known as weight stigma or anti fat bias. Where Christie shares some of the research she has been doing on fat phobia and eating disorders including the studies involving lived experience from people in larger bodies. Christie works to privilege lived experience, acknowledge, and honour the experiences of those who are suffering from the experiences of eating disorders. Acknowledging the various systemic barriers, oppressions, and injustices. So please, welcome our next special guest, Christie!

Podcast Summary:

1. The research on fat phobia or weight stigma

2. Fat phobia is systemic

3. The link between the fear of gaining weight and eating disorders

4. Weight stigma and body comments impact everyone

5. A larger body is not a before photo

6. All people should receive adequate care and respect regardless of body shape

Links to Christie:

‘Eat, Love, Live’ Website: eatlovelive.com.au

Eat Love Live Education Page: ⁠https://elleducation.teachable.com/⁠ Instagram: @eatlovelive

Facebook: Eat Love Live | Melbourne VIC

Links from the episode and to BodyMatters:

BodyMatters Australasia Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bodymatters.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

BodyMatters Instagram: @bodymattersau

Butterfly Foundation Helpline: Call their National Helpline on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1800 33 4673⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chat online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email