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Bulimia, Orthorexia and the Rise of “Wellness” - A Personal & Professional Perspective Psychologist, Dr Lara Zibarras

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Dr. Lara Zibarras, a food freedom psychologist and an eating disorder recovery coach. She combines a background in psychology and training in nutrition, intuitive eating, and eating disorders to help clients heal their relationship with food and body image. Her 20s and 30s were riddled with food anxieties and disordered eating, so finding food freedom was truly life changing. She now runs coaching programs and online courses to help clients find health without obsession and the freedom and joy in eating again.

This week, we discuss:

  • Lara's experience of an eating disorder, and how this has brought her to work as an eating disorder recovery coach.
  • Lara's experience of bulimia and the relief purging gave her.
  • How Lara navigated the feeling of fullness which she had come to find extremely uncomfortable.
  • The pressure of "bouncing back" after having a baby and losing weight for a wedding, and how this was normalised despite Lara's history of an eating disorder.
  • The rise of wellness culture and how this triggered the development of orthorexia for Lara.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

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