Unconsumed

 
For years, I believed I was doing everything “right” in the pursuit of health. Behind the discipline, praise, and outward appearance of wellness, I was quietly struggling with disordered eating, body image distress, and a relationship with food and exercise that had become all-consuming.
In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of how those patterns developed, why they went unrecognized for so long, and the recovery journey that ultimately changed my life. My hope is that this conversation helps listeners feel seen, question harmful norms, and recognize that healing is possible.
 
Resources & Where to Find Help - 
MadKozlowski@gmail.com 
Instagram: @UnconsumedCollective
LinkedIn
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting  (800) 931-2237 or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.
If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.

In this final episode of Unconsumed’s introductory mini-series, we move into the natural next phase of the conversation - now what? After unpacking diet culture, its harms, and the broader societal and economic costs tied to it, this episode zooms in on weight-centric health messaging - and why our default approach to “health” may be doing more harm than good. We take an honest look at BMI, weight-focused public health initiatives, and the unintended consequences of reducing wellbeing to a number on the scale - all while grounding the conversation in ethics, evidence, and lived experience.
From there, we pivot toward a more promising path - Weight-neutral approaches to health promotion, including frameworks like Health at Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating. Not just because they’re kinder, but because the evidence shows they work. Drawing from decades of research, this episode highlights how shifting the focus away from weight and toward behaviors, physiology, and psychological wellbeing leads to more sustainable outcomes, improved health markers, and greater trust in care.
If you’ve ever felt discouraged, blamed, or boxed out by wellness culture - or if you’re simply curious about what a more inclusive, evidence-based approach to health could look like - this conversation is for you! And while this may mark the end of the mini-series, it’s just the beginning of what’s to come on Unconsumed!
 
Resources & Where to Find Help - 
MadKozlowski@gmail.com 
Instagram: @MadzKoz
LinkedIn
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting  (800) 931-2237 or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.
If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.
 
References - 
American Public Health Association. (2019). APHA code of ethics for public health professionals.https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/membergroups/ethics/code_of_ethics.ashx
Bacon, L., & Aphramor, L. (2011). Weight science: Evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift. Nutrition Journal, 10, Article 69.https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-10-69
Blumenthal, D., Gunja, M. Z., Shah, A., Gumas, E., Williams II, R., & The Commonwealth Fund. (2024). Mirror, mirror 2024: A portrait of the failing U.S. health system—Comparing performance in 10 nations. The Commonwealth Fund.https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/scorecard/2024/mirror-mirror-2024
Ciao, A. C., Brown, T. A., & Levine, M. (2024). Future directions for equity-centered body image and eating disorders prevention work. Eating Disorders, 32(6), 817–824.https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2024.2368916
Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.https://hsph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Social-Economic-Cost-of-Eating-Disorders-in-US.pdf
Howard, T. L. M., Williams, M. O., Woodward, D., & Fox, J. R. E. (2023). The relationship between shame, perfectionism and anorexia nervosa: A grounded theory study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 96(1), 40–55.https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12425
Hunger, J. M., Smith, J. P., & Tomiyama, A. J. (2020). An evidence-based rationale for adopting weight-inclusive health policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 14(1), 73–107.https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12062
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions about eating disorders.https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/eating-disorders/faq
Kinnear, A., Siegel, J. A., Masson, P. C., & Bodell, L. P. (2023). Functions of disordered eating behaviors: A qualitative analysis of lived experience and clinician perspectives. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1), Article 141.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00854-4
Maciejewski, Z. (2017). The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act and its implications for health insurance premiums. Indiana Law Journal, 95, 28–56.
Mann, T., Tomiyama, A. J., Westling, E., Lew, A. M., Samuels, B., & Chatman, J. (2007). Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. American Psychologist, 62(3), 220–233.https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.3.220
Mendez, A. I., Miramonti, A. A., Gillen, Z. M., McKay, B. D., Leutzinger, T. J., & Cramer, J. T. (2018). Stature, body mass, and BMI in high school American football players: Appropriate determinants of obesity prevalence? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(11), 3119–3126.https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002423
National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). What is the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders?https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-is-the-difference-between-disordered-eating-and-eating-disorders/
Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Larson, N. I., Eisenberg, M. E., & Loth, K. (2011). Dieting and disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(7), 1004–1011.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.04.012
Polivy, J. (2014). Dieting. In B. H. Ross (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 61, pp. 209–239). Academic Press.https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-397045-9.00006-1
Tomiyama, A. J., Carr, D., Granberg, E. M., Major, B., Robinson, E., Sutin, A. R., & Brewis, A. (2018). How and why weight stigma drives the obesity “epidemic” and harms health. BMC Medicine, 16, Article 123.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5
Tylka, T. L., Annunziato, R. A., Burgard, D., Daníelsdóttir, S., Shuman, E., Davis, C., & Calogero, R. M. (2014). The weight-inclusive versus weight-normative approach to health: Evaluating the evidence for prioritizing well-being over weight loss. Journal of Obesity, 2014, Article 983495.https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/983495
UCLA Health. (n.d.). Our commitment to social determinants of health.https://www.uclahealth.org/sustainability/our-commitment/social-determinants-health

In this episode, we unpack the true costs of eating disorders—both the measurable financial burden and the hidden emotional and cognitive toll that often go unnoticed. Building on our earlier discussions, we look at why these conditions remain overlooked, how diet and wellness culture mask their warning signs, and what research reveals about the profound impact on individuals, families, and communities.
I also share personal reflections from my own recovery to illustrate how these struggles quietly shape daily life and why understanding the “invisible” costs is essential for meaningful change. Whether you're navigating these experiences or simply seeking clarity, this conversation sheds light on why eating disorders demand far more attention—and compassion—than they currently receive, and how greater advocacy can move us toward the understanding, resources, and support that have long been missing.
 
Resources & Where to Find Help - 
MadKozlowski@gmail.com 
Instagram: @MadzKoz
LinkedIn
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting (800) 931-2237, or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.
If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.
 
References - 
Gau, J. M., Onipede, A., Rhode, P., Shaw, H., & Stice, E. (2021). Effectiveness of the Body Project eating disorder prevention program for different racial and ethnic groups and an evaluation of the potential benefits of ethnic matching. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(12), 1007–1019.
Koreshe, E., Hay, P., Touyz, S., & Maguire, S. (2023). Prevention and early intervention in eating disorders: Findings from a narrative review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 145. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00758-1
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Mental health and substance use disorder prevention programs and evidence-based practices (Appendix C). In Effective care for high-need patients. National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NAP21860/
Pehlivan, M. J., Aouad, P., Touyz, S., Hay, P., Bryant, E., McLean, S. A., Meyer, C., & Mitchison, D. (2022). Models of care for eating disorders: Findings from a rapid review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00671-1
Regier, D. A., et al. (2013). The DSM-5: Classification and criteria changes. World Psychiatry, 12(2), 92–98. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683251/
Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED). (2020, June 24). Report: Economic costs of eating disorders. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/eating-disorders-striped/research-reports/economic-costs-eating-disorders/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). FY 2022 President’s budget: Budget in brief. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/samhsa-fy-2022-bib.pdf

This episode challenges our cultural understanding of eating disorders and who we believe is at risk. We uncover how a stereotype born from early clinical research - thin, young, white, and female - still determines who gets seen, believed, and treated today. Through personal storytelling and evidence-based insight, we reveal how diet culture, media, healthcare training, and diagnostic bias prevent millions from receiving care - Especially those in larger bodies, people of color, and men. To effectively respond to this costly and life-threatening condition, we must dismantle the myth of what an eating disorder “looks like” and learn to recognize them in every BODY.
 
Where to find help - 
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting (800) 931-2237, or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.
If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.
 
References - 
Brown, A., Flint, S. W., & Webb, K. (2022). Pervasiveness, impact and implications of weight stigma. BMJ Open, 12(9), e060861. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060861
Danthinne, E. S., Giorgianni, F. E., & Rodgers, R. F. (2020). Labels to prevent the detrimental effects of media on body image: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(5), 377–391. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23242
Deurenberg, P., Yap, M., & van Staveren, W. A. (1998). Body mass index and percent body fat: A meta-analysis among different ethnic groups. International Journal of Obesity, 22(12), 1164–1171. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800741
Eknoyan, G. (2008). Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874)—The average man and indices of obesity. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 23(1), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfm517
Fernández, J. R., Heo, M., Heymsfield, S. B., Pierson, R. N., Pi-Sunyer, X., Wang, Z.-M., Albu, J., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2003). Is percentage body fat differentially related to body mass index in Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and European Americans? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/77.1.71
Gallagher, D., Visser, M., Sepúlveda, D., Pierson, R. N., Harris, T., & Heymsfield, S. B. (1996). How useful is body mass index for comparison of body fatness across age, sex, and ethnicity? American Journal of Epidemiology, 143(3), 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008733
Graff, S., Oppfeldt, A. M., Gotfredsen, M., & Christensen, B. (2022). Diagnostic bias and delayed care in patients with overweight or obesity. Ugeskrift for Laeger, 184(38), V06210530.
Harrison, K. (2000). The body electric: Thin-ideal media and eating disorders in adolescents. Journal of Communication, 50(3), 119–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02862.x
Harrison, K. (2001). Thin-ideal media, self-discrepancies, and eating disorder symptomatology in adolescents. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 20(3), 289–323. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.20.3.289.22303
Keys, A., Fidanza, F., Karvonen, M. J., Kimura, N., & Taylor, H. L. (1972). Indices of relative weight and obesity. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 25(6), 329–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9681(72)90027-6
National Alliance for Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Eating disorders. Retrieved February 8, 2024, from https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/what-are-eating-disorders-2/
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (n.d.). General eating disorder statistics. Retrieved February 8, 2024, from https://anad.org/eating-disorder-statistic/
Phelan, S. M., Burgess, D. J., Yeazel, M. W., Hellerstedt, W. L., Griffin, J. M., & van Ryn, M. (2015). Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity. Obesity Reviews, 16(4), 319–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12266
Piran, N. (2019). The experience of embodiment construct: Reflecting the quality of embodied lives. In T. L. Tylka & N. Piran (Eds.), Handbook of positive body image and embodiment: Constructs, protective factors, and interventions (pp. 11–21). Oxford University Press.
Puhl, R. M., & Brownell, K. D. (2001). Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obesity Research, 9(12), 788–805. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2001.108
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Puhl, R. M., Lessard, L. M., Pearl, R. L., Himmelstein, M. S., & Foster, G. D. (2021). International comparisons of weight stigma: Addressing a void in the field. International Journal of Obesity, 45(9), 1976–1985. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00886-1
Sabin, J. A., Marini, M., & Nosek, B. A. (2012). Implicit and explicit anti-fat bias among a large sample of medical doctors. PLOS ONE, 7(11), e48448. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048448
 

In this first episode of Unconsumed, Host Maddie lays the groundwork for the series by exploring how diet culture and wellness culture intertwine to shape our beliefs about health, worth, and body image. She unpacks the blurred line between dieting and disordered eating—revealing how behaviors often praised as “healthy” can actually mask harm—and discusses the cultural and systemic forces that make these patterns so pervasive.
Drawing from both personal experience and public health insight, Maddie reframes what it means to be “healthy,” challenging listeners to question long-held assumptions about weight, morality, and well-being. This foundational conversation sets the tone for the series ahead, inviting reflection, awareness, and a more compassionate understanding of ourselves and others.
 
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Feeding and eating disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Bacon, L., & Aphramor, L. (2011). Weight science: Evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift. Nutrition Journal, 10, 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-10-69
Hunger, J. M., Smith, J. P., & Tomiyama, A. J. (2020). An evidence-based rationale for adopting weight-inclusive health policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 14(1), 73–107. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12062
National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). What is the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders? https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-is-the-difference-between-disordered-eating-and-eating-disorders/
Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Larson, N. I., Eisenberg, M. E., & Loth, K. (2016). Dieting and disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(4), 595–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.10.022
Within Health. (2022, October). Study reveals Americans’ dieting habits in 2022. Within Health. https://withinhealth.com/explore-articles/study-reveals-americans-dieting-habits-in-2022
 
Where to find help - 
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting (800) 931-2237, or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.
If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.