In this powerful conversation, Dr. Marianne welcomes back body image coach and anti-diet educator Debbie Saroufim for a candid discussion about what happens when weight loss triggers eating disorder thoughts—even in solid recovery.

Debbie opens up about how recent stress and anxiety have impacted her appetite and body, and how unsolicited weight-related comments from others can be both activating and isolating. Together, we unpack why even “positive” feedback about weight loss can be harmful, how body changes can feel destabilizing, and what it means to hold complex emotions without slipping back into disordered behaviors.

We also talk about:

• The problem with equating weight loss with wellness

• How eating disorder thoughts can show up years into recovery

• The myth of a “correct” body image or recovery experience

• Perimenopause, changing bodies, and the grief that can follow

• Why body neutrality may offer more freedom than forced body positivity

• Mindfulness, fart metaphors (yay!), and how to let thoughts pass without bottling them up

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or navigating your own relationship with body changes, this episode offers honesty, compassion, and tools to help you stay grounded.

🧠 Want to connect with Debbie Saroufim? Visit thebodyacceptancecoach.com or follow her on Instagram @bodyacceptance_coach

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

ABOUT DEBBIE

LISTEN TO OTHER EPISODES WITH DEBBIE

• Anti-Fat Bias in Schools and Society on Apple or Spotify.
• How Eating Disorder Recovery Heals Life Overall on Apple or Spotify.
• Let’s Talk Recovery: Ditching Diet Culture & Crushing Eating Disorder Thoughts on Apple or Spotify.

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Look into my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet, subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com

In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne Miller explores the powerful and often overlooked connection between masking neurodivergence and eating disorders. If you've ever felt like you're performing just to get through the day—suppressing your sensory needs, camouflaging your communication style, or overriding your body’s cues to fit societal expectations—this episode will resonate deeply.

Dr. Marianne breaks down what masking looks like in autistic and neurodivergent individuals, including social, sensory, emotional, and cognitive masking, and how these patterns can lead to or exacerbate disordered eating behaviors like restriction, bingeing, and compulsive exercise. She also explains the systemic pressures—including ableism, fatphobia, and white supremacy—that reinforce masking, and how this contributes to burnout, identity confusion, and food-related distress.

Most important, Dr. Marianne offers a compassionate look at what it means to unmask as part of eating disorder recovery. You'll learn how reclaiming your sensory needs, autonomy, and embodied preferences can help you heal—not by becoming someone else, but by honoring exactly who you are.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Marianne’s self-paced, neurodivergent-affirming, ARFID and Selective Eating Course here: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• What is masking and how does it show up in neurodivergent people

• How masking contributes to disconnection from the body and food

• The role of sensory processing differences in eating disorders

• Systemic factors that reinforce masking (ableism, fatphobia, etc.)

• The emotional and physical toll of long-term masking

• How unmasking can support meaningful, sustainable recovery

🎧 LISTEN TO OTHER EPISODES ON AUTISM, NEURODIVERSITY, & EATING DISORDERS

• Stuck on Empty: Autistic Inertia, ARFID & the Struggle to Eat via Apple & Spotify
• Minding the Gap: The Intersection Between AuDHD & Eating Disorders With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist via Apple & Spotify
• Set-Shifting, AuDHD, & Eating Disorders via Apple & Spotify.
• Our Personal Neurodivergent Stories via Apple & Spotify.

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Look into my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet, subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com

What happens when eating disorder care is offered by clinicians with no specialized training? In this vital conversation, Dr. Marianne sits down with Edie Stark, LCSW (@ediestarktherapy), founder of Stark Therapy Group, to unpack the real—and often hidden—dangers of receiving eating disorder treatment from generalist therapists or corporate telehealth platforms like BetterHelp.

They explore why working with an eating disorder specialist matters, how disordered eating can be overlooked or misdiagnosed in non-specialized care, and the serious risks of inaccurate, unethical, or even harmful treatment. Edie also breaks down how to find high-quality, fat-positive, neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care, even when access feels limited.

Whether you're searching for your own recovery support or you're a clinician trying to do better, this episode is a must-listen.

WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE

• The rise of venture-capitalist “therapy tech” companies and how they commodify mental health

• Ethical concerns and client horror stories from non-specialized care platforms

• Why generalist therapists are often unequipped to treat eating disorders safely

• What makes someone a true eating disorder specialist

• Why weight-loss goals should never be a treatment focus for ED clinicians

• Red flags to look for on therapist websites

• How to ask the right questions when looking for an eating disorder therapist

• The importance of training, supervision, and collaborative care teams

• The unique risks of misdiagnosis for fat, neurodivergent, BIPOC, and male clients

• Where and how to find safe, inclusive, evidence-based care

🎧 Listen now to learn how to protect yourself or your clients from underqualified treatment—and what truly specialized eating disorder recovery support looks like.

CONTACT AND FOLLOW EDIE

• Edie Stark is a licensed social worker in California, New York, and Florida.
• Connect with Edie at https://starktherapygroup.com or @ediestarktherapy on Instagram.
• Email Edie at hello@starktherapygroup.com

LISTEN TO OTHER EPISODES WITH EDIE

• The Diet/Wellness Industry, Accessibility, & Diet Culture on Apple & Spotify.
• Anti-Fat Bias & the Importance of Advocacy on Apple & Spotify.

CONTACT AND FOLLOW DR. MARIANNE

• Dr. Marianne Miller is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, Texas, and Washington D.C.
• Visit www.drmariannemiller.com or follow @drmariannemiller on Instagram.
• Email her at hello@drmariannemiller.com

What happens when your eating disorder doesn’t just affect your plate—but every relationship in your life? In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne explores the hidden struggles of living with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as an adult. From dating and long-term partnerships to parenting, friendships, and work dynamics, adult ARFID can create chronic stress, disconnection, and grief—especially in a world that misunderstands sensory needs and neurodivergent eating.

You’ll hear how ARFID shows up in romantic relationships, what it’s like to parent while navigating your own food limitations, and why shame and social exclusion are such common parts of the adult ARFID experience. Dr. Marianne also shares a powerful lived-experience story and affirms that your food needs are not broken—and your relationships canbe built around what truly supports you.

Whether you’re living with adult ARFID or supporting someone who is, this episode offers validation, insight, and a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming perspective on how ARFID impacts connection.

👉 Want support? Learn more about Dr. Marianne’s self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating Course.

LISTEN TO OTHER EPISODES ON ARFID

• Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify.
• Stuck on Empty: Autistic Inertia, ARFID & the Struggle to Eat on Apple & Spotify.
• ARFID in Adults vs ARFID in Children on Apple & Spotify.

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Look into my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet, subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com

Movement can be one of the most confusing and emotionally charged topics in eating disorder recovery. In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne answers some of the most common questions about exercise and recovery: When is it safe to move again? What if movement was part of your eating disorder—or what if it was your only way to self-regulate? What if you’re scared of returning to exercise because of past trauma or fear of judgment?

You’ll hear practical, trauma-informed, and neurodivergent-affirming guidance on how to rebuild a relationship with movement that’s rooted in safety, consent, and care—not pressure or punishment. Whether you’re in early recovery or re-evaluating movement years later, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and real-world support for finding your own path.

✨ If you’re looking for a non-punishing, neurodivergent-friendly approach to recovery, check out Dr. Marianne’s binge eating recovery membership: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/binge-eating-101-class-1

LISTEN TO OTHER EPISODES ON MOVEMENT & FITNESS

• Fitness Culture, Body Image, & Joyful Movement with @thoughtfullyfueled Lisa Schrader, RD on Apple & Spotify.
• A Bulimia Recovery Story + How Weight-Neutral Fitness Can Help Eating Disorder Recovery with Abbey Griffith @claritydecatur on Apple & Spotify.
• Just say NO to dieting: A Weight-Neutral Approach to Fitness with Kim Hagle @radiantvitalitywellness on Apple & Spotify.

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Look into my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet, subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com

What does true food freedom really look like—and why is it so hard to recognize when you're stuck in quasi-recovery? In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I sit down with Dr. Lara Zibarras (@drlarazib), psychologist, eating disorder recovery coach, and the voice behind The Food Freedom Psychologist. Lara shares her powerful lived experience with bulimia, orthorexia, and the trap of “wellness culture” that masqueraded as health—but kept her stuck in restriction for years. Together, we explore the societal pressures that shape eating disorders across the lifespan, including postpartum body image expectations, the lure of perfectionism, and the explosion of weight stigma online. We also unpack how mindset shifts—like moving away from all-or-nothing thinking and embracing flexibility—can be a critical part of recovery. Whether you're healing from disordered eating, supporting a loved one, or questioning the messages you've received about your body, this episode offers real talk, compassion, and insight.

ABOUT DR. LARA

• Orthorexia Uncovered: Causes, Challenges, & Pathways to Healing on Apple & Spotify.
• An Orthorexia Recovery Story With Sabrina Magnan, @sabrina.magnan.health on Apple & Spotify.
• Why is Anorexia Showing Up in Midlife? You're Not Imagining It on Apple & Spotify.

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Learn about my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com

Why do binge eating urges feel so overwhelming—and what do they actually mean? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore the real reasons behind binge eating urges and offers compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming strategies to manage them without shame.

You’ll learn why binge urges aren’t about a lack of willpower or self-control. Instead, they’re often the result of unmet needs—like food deprivation, emotional disconnection, sensory overwhelm, or nervous system dysregulation. Dr. Marianne explains how these urges show up in neurodivergent bodies and offers practical tools to respond with care, not punishment.

Whether you’re navigating binge eating disorder, struggling with food shame, or simply want support that understands your brain and body, this episode offers a validating and supportive framework for recovery.

🔗 Learn more or join the Binge Eating Recovery Membership at: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/binge-eating-101-class-1

CHECK OUT MORE EPISODES ON BINGE EATING

• Food Neutrality & Binge Eating Recovery: Apple & Spotify
• Reasons Behind Binge Eating & What To Do After a Binge: Apple & Spotify
• How to Recover From Binge Eating Without Focusing on Weight Loss: Apple & Spotify.
• Understanding Binge Eating: Causes, Solutions, & Coping Strategies: Apple & Spotify
• How to Manage Triggers & Cravings During Recovery From Binge Eating & Bulimia: Apple & Spotify

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Look into my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet, subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com