Eating disorders are mental health disorders. Period – full stop. (Triggering content warning)
Johanna Kandel, today’s esteemed guest and the founder and CEO of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, has dedicated her career to unveiling that commonly misunderstood fact. Eating disorders are biologically-based brain illnesses. They are genetic in nature, and they are absolutely serious mental illnesses.
As a passionate (and impressively credentialed) advocate for mental health and eating disorders legislation, Johanna has spent a lot of time meeting with numerous members of Congress, and was part of the first-ever Eating Disorder Roundtable at the White House.
This is a deeply personal conversation wherein both Johanna and I share experiences from our own struggles with disordered eating and mental health; dig into our raw, honest, and unfiltered concerns about the growing trend of weight loss drugs; and deliver important tips for respectfully supporting those in your life struggling with body image issues.
You don’t want to miss this table stakes conversation on mental health as we shine a bright light on one of the most deeply shrouded health and wellness secrets hidden beneath American society. No doubt, you’ll leave more informed, inspired, and empowered to help further the cause.
(00:05:59) Johanna Kandel’s Backstory & Inspirations
- Opening up the wider conversation on EAs in the mental health space
- Her personal experience with eating disorders
- A revealing genetic predisposition
- Cultural challenges of being a dancer
- Karena shares a memory from ballet class
- Launching the National Alliance for Eating Disorders 24 years ago
(00:13:26) Environmental & Genetic Predisposition to Eating Disorders
- Statistics behind genetic predisposition
- Johanna details her affected family tree
- Karena’s first exposure to eating disorders
- How can we protect our kids?
- Impact of social media and being mindful of content being consumed
(00:18:05) Surviving Near-Death Experiences
- Eating disorders do not discriminate, RE: gender, race, size, age, etc.
- Johanna Kandel gets honest about a suicide attempt
- Shame breeds in isolation
- The power of a support community
(00:21:14) Links Between Mental Health & Eating Disorders
- 50% overlap with substance abuse
- Importance of a multidisciplinary recovery team
- Links between COVID-19 pandemic and increase in ED prevalence
- Understanding the sharp increase in helpline calls to NAED
(00:27:19) We Have to Talk About It: Ozempic & Mental Health
- Amplified messaging by Oprah and TikTok
- NAED Helpline Phone Number (866) 662-1235
- Unpacking the morality and necessity of weight loss drugs
- CEDO’s Response to the Oprah Special
- Johanna and Karena share their serious concerns
(00:35:47) Tips for Supporting ED Journeys with Kindness & Empathy
- The psychological dynamics of body shaming
- Johanna shares a message for those inclined to body shame others
- How we can make a positive difference in the world
- Know that you are not alone in your journey with ED
- How to approach a loved one who is struggling
- Johanna’s “why” – her young daughter’s future
This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/thebigsilence50 and use code thebigsilence50 to get 50% off.
Guest Info:
- Website: National Alliance for Eating Disorders
- Instagram: @alliancefored
- TikTok: @alliancefored
- YouTube: The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness
- Support: allianceforeatingdisorders.com/donate/
Resources:
- Start a conversation in your The Big Silence merch: thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all
- Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
- Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
- Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
- Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
- Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
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“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.
Producer, Bobby Goldstein.
