Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast

mariannemillerphd
  • 5.0 (28)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to this mental health and eating disorder podcast by Dr. Marianne Miller, who is an eating disorder therapist and binge eating and ARFID course creator. In this podcast, Dr. Marianne explores the ins and outs of eating disorder recovery. It’s a top podcast for people struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), and any sort of distressed eating. We discuss topics like neurodiversity and eating disorders, self-compassion in eating disorder recovery, lived experience of eating disorders, LGBTQ+ and eating disorders, as well as anti-fat bias, weight-neutral fitness, muscularity-oriented issues, and body image. Dr. Marianne has been an eating disorder therapist for 13 years and has created a course on ARFID and selective eating, as well as a membership to help you recover from binge eating disorder and bulimia. Dr. Marianne has been in mental health for 28 years. Dr. Marianne is neurodivergent and works with a lot of neurodivergent folks. She has fully recovered from an eating disorder that lasted 25 years, and she wants to share her experience, knowledge, and recovery joy with you! Her interview episodes with top eating disorder professionals drop on Tuesdays. You can also tune in on Fridays when Dr. Marianne’s SOLO episodes that come out. You’ll hear personal stories, tips, and strategies to help you in your eating disorder recovery journey. If you’re struggling with food, eating, body image, and mental health, this podcast is for you!

  1. Jun 26

    What to Expect From ARFID Treatment: A Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned, Trauma-Informed Approach

    If the idea of ARFID treatment feels just as overwhelming as ARFID itself, you're not alone. Many people avoid seeking help because they worry treatment will involve pressure, forced food exposures, or having their sensory experiences dismissed. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne Miller explains what neurodivergent-affirming ARFID treatmentactually looks like. She discusses why understanding the function of food avoidance matters, how autism, ADHD, trauma, sensory processing differences, and executive functioning can shape eating challenges, and why collaboration and autonomy are essential parts of effective treatment. Whether you're an adult with ARFID, the parent of a child with ARFID, or a healthcare professional looking to better understand Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, this episode offers a compassionate, evidence-informed look at what meaningful treatment can be. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn why ARFID treatment should begin with understanding rather than immediately trying to change eating behaviors. Dr. Marianne explains how neurodivergent-affirming care differs from compliance-based approaches and why treatment should account for sensory processing, nervous system regulation, executive functioning, and trauma history. She also discusses what exposure work can look like when it's collaborative, respectful, and tailored to the individual instead of relying on pressure or coercion. Finally, she explains why successful ARFID recovery is not about eating every food, but about creating a safer, more flexible, and less distressing relationship with eating. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for adults living with ARFID, parents and caregivers of children or teens with ARFID, autistic and ADHD individuals with restrictive eating, healthcare professionals seeking a neurodivergent-affirming understanding of ARFID, and anyone wondering what to expect from ARFID treatment. Why a Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach Matters ARFID doesn't look the same for everyone. Some people experience intense sensory sensitivities, while others struggle because of fear of choking, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, or a longstanding lack of interest in food. Many people experience more than one of these patterns at the same time. Effective treatment begins by understanding why eating feels difficult rather than assuming all food avoidance has the same cause. A neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed approach recognizes that meaningful progress comes from working with the nervous system instead of against it. Learn More About ARFID If you'd like a deeper understanding of ARFID, autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, trauma, and evidence-informed treatment approaches, check out Dr. Marianne's self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating Course. The course is designed for adults, parents, caregivers, and professionals who want practical, neurodivergent-affirming strategies that move beyond compliance-based treatment. Related Episodes When Safe Foods Stop Working: ARFID Plateaus, Burnout, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. ARFID Explained: What It Feels Like, Why It’s Misunderstood, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. Why Sensory-Attuned Care Matters More Than Exposure in ARFID Treatment on Apple & Spotify. ARFID, PDA, and Autonomy: Why Pressure Makes Eating Harder on Apple & Spotify. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne If you or your child are struggling with ARFID, Dr. Marianne Miller provides ARFID therapy for clients in California, Texas, and Washington, DC, along with coaching services worldwide. Learn more about therapy, coaching, courses, and additional resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. Connect With Dr. Marianne Website: www.drmariannemiller.com ARFID & Selective Eating Course: www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid Instagram: @drmariannemiller

    15 min

  2. Jun 24

    Anorexia & Bulimia Recovery: 5 Ways to Manage Eating Overwhelm in Long-Term Eating Disorders

    If eating still feels overwhelming after years of living with anorexia or bulimia, you're not alone. Long-term eating disorders often make every meal feel mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting, even when you're deeply committed to recovery. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, eating disorder therapist Dr. Marianne Miller shares five practical, compassionate strategies to help reduce eating overwhelm, manage food anxiety, and make meals feel more manageable. If you're recovering from anorexia, bulimia, or another long-term restrictive eating disorder, this episode offers realistic tools that support sustainable recovery instead of perfection. Why Eating Can Still Feel So Hard Many people believe eating should feel easy after years of recovery work. In reality, long-term anorexia and bulimia often leave behind deeply ingrained patterns involving the brain, nervous system, and learned responses to food. Dr. Marianne explains why eating can continue to feel overwhelming long after someone decides they want recovery, and why those struggles do not mean you're failing or doing recovery incorrectly. Five Practical Ways to Reduce Eating Overwhelm Dr. Marianne walks through five strategies that can help make meals feel more manageable. She discusses how breaking eating into smaller, achievable steps can reduce overwhelm, why simplifying food decisions conserves mental energy, and how shifting your definition of success away from comfort can support long-term healing. She also explores ways to support your nervous system before and during meals and explains why consistency matters more than striving for the perfect recovery day. Recovery Is Built One Meal at a Time When you've lived with an eating disorder for years, it's easy to believe that every difficult meal means you're moving backward. This episode offers a different perspective. Recovery rarely happens through dramatic breakthroughs. More often, it develops through ordinary moments of choosing nourishment, returning after setbacks, and continuing to practice recovery skills even when eating still feels difficult. Those small decisions add up over time and become the foundation for lasting change. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for adults recovering from anorexia, bulimia, chronic restrictive eating, or long-term eating disorders who continue to feel overwhelmed by meals. It's also helpful for family members, loved ones, and clinicians who want to better understand why eating can remain challenging even after years of treatment and recovery work. Related Episodes Beyond Anorexia: The Truth About Long-Term Restrictive Eating on Apple and Spotify. Understanding Harm Reduction: Why "Full Recovery" May Not Be the Goal for Lifelong Eating Disorders on Apple and Spotify. Why Eating Still Breaks Down for Neurodivergent People With Long-Term Eating Disorders on Apple and Spotify. Navigating a Long-Term Eating Disorder on Apple & Spotify. When an Eating Disorder Becomes Chronic: Recovery Tools for Persistent Anorexia & Bulimia on Apple and Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're looking for compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed support for anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, or other eating challenges, I'd love to help. I provide therapy for adults throughout California and Washington, D.C., as well as coaching for clients worldwide. Learn more about working with me at www.drmariannemiller.com. You can also follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller for more education and practical recovery resources, and subscribe to Dr. Marianne-Land on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

    14 min

  3. Jun 22

    Late-Diagnosed Autism & ADHD: Why So Many Girls Get Missed With Jamie Roberts, LMFT @neurodivergenttherapist

    Why do so many autistic and ADHD girls grow up believing they're simply "too much," anxious, or broken? In this episode, I sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and neurodiversity advocate Jamie Roberts @neurodivergenttherapist to talk about why autism and ADHD so often go undiagnosed in girls, how masking hides neurodivergence, and what changes when people finally receive answers later in life. We also explore the overlap between neurodivergence, eating disorders, anxiety, body image, and identity, along with what true neurodivergent-affirming care can look like. What You'll Learn Jamie shares her own journey to a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD and explains why so many girls first receive diagnoses like anxiety or depression instead of having their neurodivergence recognized. We discuss perfectionism, people-pleasing, masking, sensory differences, and why many neurodivergent girls become experts at hiding their struggles. We also talk about healing your inner teen, embracing authenticity after years of masking, and learning that taking up space is not something you have to earn. Jamie explains why neurodiversity-affirming therapy focuses on understanding rather than changing who someone is, and why autonomy, identity, and self-acceptance matter so much for long-term well-being. We Also Discuss How autism and ADHD often present differently in girls Why anxiety and depression can mask underlying neurodivergence The emotional impact of receiving a late autism diagnosis Masking, perfectionism, and people-pleasing Healing your inner teen after years of feeling misunderstood The relationship between neurodivergence, body image, and eating disorders Why compliance-based approaches can harm neurodivergent people Universal Design and creating environments that work for everyone Jamie's new book, Neurodiversity for Teen Girls. About Jamie Roberts Jamie Roberts, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, speaker, and author specializing in neurodivergent-affirming mental health care for teens and young adults. She is the founder of Neuropebble, a neuroaffirming clinical training platform, and Equilibrium Counseling Services. Jamie openly shares her own experience with late-diagnosed autism and ADHD while helping clinicians, parents, and neurodivergent individuals better understand neurodiversity through education, advocacy, and practical support. Follow Jamie on Instagram @neurodivergenttherapist and @neuropebble. Related Episodes Late-Diagnosed Autism, ADHD, & “Neurohybridity”: Why Some People Never Fit One Label With Dr. Emma Offord @divergentlives on Apple & Spotify. Autism, ADHD, & Eating Disorders: Recovery, Sensory Needs, & Late Diagnosis With Margo White, CPN @margo_wholebodynutrition on Apple & Spotify. “Stuck” Isn’t Lazy: Inertia in ADHD, Autism, & Eating Disorder Recovery With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW on Apple & Spotify. About Dr. Marianne Miller I'm Dr. Marianne Miller, PhD, LMFT, an eating disorder therapist, neurodivergent-affirming clinician, and host of Dr. Marianne-Land. I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, and bulimia while supporting neurodivergent adults, teens, athletes, and LGBTQIA+ clients through a sensory-attuned, trauma-informed, weight-neutral approach. I provide therapy throughout California and coaching worldwide. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com and follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller. Listen and Subscribe If this conversation helped you better understand late-diagnosed autism, ADHD, masking, or neurodivergence in girls and women, please follow Dr. Marianne-Land, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who has spent years wondering why they always felt different. Your support helps more people find neurodivergent-affirming information and compassionate eating disorder care.

    32 min

  4. Jun 19

    Why Eating Feels Impossible: Sensory Overload, Trauma, ARFID, & Food Restriction

    Have you ever looked at a plate of food, known you needed to eat, and still felt like your brain and body simply couldn't do it? Many people assume this experience reflects a lack of willpower or motivation. In reality, sensory overload, trauma, ARFID, and food restriction can all make eating feel genuinely inaccessible. When your nervous system stays in survival mode, even choosing, preparing, and tolerating food can become overwhelming. In this episode, I explain why eating can feel impossible, how sensory processing and trauma influence appetite and food intake, and why restriction often creates a cycle that makes eating even harder. I also share the fictional story of Jasper to illustrate how nervous system overload, chronic stress, and inadequate nutrition can quietly reinforce one another. If you've ever wondered why food feels so much harder for you than it seems to be for everyone else, this conversation offers a compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming perspective. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN You'll learn why eating requires much more than hunger and willpower, and how sensory processing, executive functioning, and nervous system regulation all influence your ability to nourish yourself. I explain how trauma can shape eating patterns long after stressful experiences have ended and why many people develop food avoidance without consciously trying to restrict. I also discuss the overlap between ARFID, restrictive eating disorders, autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, and chronic stress. Finally, I share practical ways to approach eating with curiosity instead of shame so you can better understand what your nervous system may be communicating. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for adults and teens with ARFID, anorexia, atypical anorexia, or other restrictive eating disorders. It's also for neurodivergent people with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing differences who find eating exhausting or overwhelming. Parents, caregivers, therapists, dietitians, physicians, and other providers will also gain a deeper understanding of why food avoidance often reflects nervous system overload rather than defiance or a lack of motivation. CONTENT CAUTION This episode includes discussion of ARFID, anorexia, restrictive eating disorders, food restriction, trauma, sensory overload, and food avoidance. TAKEAWAYS Eating difficulties don't always begin with body image concerns or intentional dieting. Sometimes a nervous system carrying chronic stress, trauma, or sensory overload simply doesn't have enough capacity to manage the complex task of eating. Food restriction can also become both a consequence of these struggles and a factor that keeps them going. As nutrition decreases, flexibility often narrows, sensory sensitivity may increase, and eating can become even more difficult. Understanding that cycle allows us to replace self-blame with curiosity and build recovery from a place of compassion rather than criticism. RELATED EPISODES What Is Mechanical Eating? Pros, Cons, & How It Can Work When Eating Feels Hard (ARFID, Binge Eating, Restriction) on Apple & Spotify. ARFID, PDA, and Autonomy: Why Pressure Makes Eating Harder on Apple & Spotify. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. The Connection Between Unresolved Trauma & Long-Lasting Eating Disorders (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. RESOURCES If you or someone you love struggles with ARFID or selective eating, check out my self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course. I created it for adults, parents, caregivers, and providers who want a neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, trauma-informed approach to treatment and recovery. To learn more about working with me for eating disorder therapy in San Diego, California or virtually throughout California and Washington, D.C., or coaching worldwide, visit my website at drmariannemiller.com. CONNECT WITH DR. MARIANNE MILLER If this episode helped you better understand your relationship with food, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this conversation. You can also connect with me on Instagram @drmariannemiller for more education on ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, neurodivergence, trauma, sensory processing, and eating disorder recovery.

    16 min

  5. Jun 17

    ADHD & Binge Eating: Why You Feel Like a Bottomless Pit (And Why Traditional CBT Often Fails)

    Why do some people with ADHD feel like no amount of food is ever enough? Why can you finish a satisfying meal and still find yourself searching the pantry, thinking about dessert, or feeling like something is missing? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD and binge eating disorder (BED). I explain why many ADHDers describe feeling like a "bottomless pit" around food, why satisfaction can remain elusive even when physical hunger has passed, and why traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) doesn't always address the executive functioning and nervous system challenges that drive binge eating. Using the fictional case example of Zoe, we look beyond willpower and self-control to better understand how ADHD can shape reward processing, food thoughts, understimulation, sensory needs, and the search for regulation. If you've ever wondered why your relationship with food feels different from what most recovery advice describes, this episode offers a compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming perspective. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN You'll learn why ADHD and binge eating frequently occur together, how executive functioning differences can influence eating behavior, and why the feeling of "never being satisfied" isn't always about physical hunger. I also discuss why food often becomes a source of stimulation after mentally demanding days, how shame keeps many people stuck, and why ADHD-informed eating disorder treatment may look very different from traditional CBT. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for adults with ADHD, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, chronic food thoughts, or food noise. It's also for anyone who has worked on emotional eating, stopped dieting, or completed eating disorder treatment but still feels confused by persistent urges to eat. Therapists, dietitians, and other eating disorder professionals who work with neurodivergent clients will also find this discussion helpful. IN THIS EPISODE We explore why binge eating isn't always driven by restriction, how ADHD changes the way many people experience reward and satisfaction, why executive functioning matters in eating disorder recovery, and what clinicians often miss when they focus only on changing thoughts or behaviors. I also explain how approaching binge eating with curiosity instead of self-criticism can open the door to more effective, sustainable healing. RELATED EPISODES ADHD & Bulimia: Dopamine, Impulsivity, & the Hidden Link to Binge Eating With Kirsten Book, PMHNP-BC on Apple and Spotify. Why Eating Feels So Chaotic With ADHD: Binge Eating, Bulimia, & Executive Function Challenges on Apple and Spotify. Eating Disorders & ADHD: Neurodivergent-Affirming Recovery With Taylor Ashley, RP @taylorashleytherapy on Apple and Spotify. RESOURCES If you're looking for additional support, check out my Binge Eating Recovery Membership, where you'll find practical tools, education, and guidance through a neurodivergent-affirming, weight-neutral lens. You can also explore my ARFID & Selective Eating course, blog, podcast archive, and additional recovery resources at www.drmariannemiller.com. WORK WITH DR. MARIANNE MILLER I'm Dr. Marianne Miller, PhD, LMFT, an eating disorder therapist specializing in ADHD, binge eating disorder, ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming care. I provide virtual therapy throughout California, TWashington, DC, as well as coaching worldwide. If this episode helped you better understand your relationship with food, please follow Dr. Marianne-Land, leave a rating or review on Apple and Spotify Podcasts, and share this episode with someone who has spent years wondering why food never seems like enough.

    15 min

  6. Jun 15

    What If You're Not Broken? Neurodivergence, Sanism, Eating Disorders, & Radical Acceptance With Shira Collings @threadandthreshold.therapy

    What happens when you stop viewing yourself through a pathology lens and start seeing your differences as part of your identity instead of evidence that something is wrong with you? In this thought-provoking conversation, I sit down with Shira Collings, LPC, a neurodiversity-affirming, fat-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, disability justice-aligned therapist, to explore neurodivergence as a social identity and how that perspective can transform the way we think about eating disorders, mental health, and recovery. Together, we discuss the concept of sanism, the oppression faced by people whose minds fall outside societal expectations of "normal," and how shame often develops when people internalize messages that they are broken, defective, or in need of fixing. We also examine the overlap between neurodiversity, anti-fatness, eating disorder recovery, and disability justice. Shira shares their personal journey with neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-acceptance. We discuss why many people identify as neurodivergent without pursuing formal diagnosis, how neurodivergence can function as a cultural identity, and why community often plays a powerful role in healing. We also unpack radical acceptance, harm reduction, and the limitations of all-or-nothing recovery narratives. Instead of focusing on perfection, we explore how people can reduce suffering, increase self-compassion, and build lives that align with their values. In This Episode, We Discuss Neurodivergence as a social identity rather than a diagnosis The origins of the neurodiversity paradigm What sanism is and how it affects mental health care Self-diagnosis, formal diagnosis, and personal identity The intersection of neurodiversity, eating disorders, and anti-fatness How shame fuels both mental health struggles and eating disorders Radical acceptance and self-compassion Harm reduction approaches in eating disorder recovery Why recovery does not need to be all-or-nothing How disability justice can reshape the way we support neurodivergent people About Shira Collings Shira Collings, LPC (she/they), is a feminist, neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, fat-affirming, and disability justice-aligned psychotherapist. They specialize in reproductive mental health, eating disorders, body image concerns, trauma, grief, and loss. Shira supports clients in healing from internalized and systemic oppression while building lives that align with their values. Follow Shira on Instagram: @threadandthreshold.therapy Website: threadandthreshold.com Who This Episode Is For This episode is for neurodivergent people, eating disorder survivors, therapists, advocates, caregivers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether they have spent too much of their life trying to fix parts of themselves that were never broken. Key Takeaway Healing does not always come from becoming someone different. Sometimes healing begins when you stop treating yourself like a problem to solve and start approaching yourself with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. Related Episodes Why Eating Still Breaks Down for Neurodivergent People With Long-Term Eating Disorders via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking, Embodiment, & Trust: A Neurodivergent Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery With Dr. Emma Offord @divergentlives via Apple & Spotify. Unmasking in Eating Disorder Recovery: What Neurodivergent People Need to Know About Safety & Healing via Apple & Spotify. Autism & Anorexia: When Masking Looks Like Restriction, & Recovery Feels Unsafe via Apple & Spotify. Recovering Again: Navigating Eating Disorders After a Late Neurodivergent Diagnosis (Part 1) With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist via Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. I provide therapy in California and Washington, DC, as well as coaching and educational resources worldwide. Learn more at www.drmariannemiller.com On my website, you can also explore my ARFID & Selective Eating Course, Binge Eating Recovery Membership, and additional resources for neurodivergent eating disorder recovery. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this message.

    34 min

  7. Jun 12

    Is ARFID Lifelong? What We Know About Recovery, Treatment, & Hope

    Have you ever wondered whether ARFID is something a person lives with forever? It's one of the most common questions people ask after an ARFID diagnosis, yet the answer is rarely as straightforward as people hope. Adults with ARFID, parents of children with ARFID, and even clinicians often want to know what recovery really looks like, whether meaningful change is possible, and how neurodivergence influences the long-term course of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, Dr. Marianne Miller explores the question, "Is ARFID lifelong?" through a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed lens. She examines how conversations about ARFID recovery often become oversimplified and why many people focus on the wrong markers when trying to determine whether treatment is working. The discussion moves beyond food variety alone and considers broader questions about quality of life, flexibility, self-understanding, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful life experiences. Is ARFID Lifelong? Many people assume there are only two possible outcomes: either ARFID completely disappears or nothing changes. The reality is often far more nuanced. Dr. Marianne discusses why the future cannot be predicted by a diagnosis alone and how growth, adaptation, treatment, accommodations, and self-understanding can shape a person's relationship with food over time. What Does ARFID Recovery Look Like? Recovery from ARFID does not always fit traditional eating disorder narratives. In this episode, Dr. Marianne explores how recovery may involve reduced distress around food, increased flexibility, improved nutrition, greater participation in social experiences, and less time spent managing food-related anxiety. She also examines why quality of life deserves a central place in conversations about recovery. ARFID, Autism, ADHD, and Neurodivergence ARFID frequently overlaps with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, OCD, anxiety, chronic illness, and other neurodivergent experiences. Understanding these intersections can dramatically change how people view treatment, accommodations, and long-term outcomes. Dr. Marianne discusses why neurodivergent-affirming care matters and why recovery may look different from person to person. Why the Question Matters For many people, the question "Is ARFID lifelong?" is not simply about food. It is often about identity, hope, relationships, travel, family experiences, social connection, and the desire to spend less mental energy managing meals. Dr. Marianne explores the emotional weight behind this question and why understanding the future can feel so important after years of struggle. In This Episode, You'll Learn You'll learn why ARFID recovery is rarely a simple yes-or-no answer, how sensory processing and neurodivergence influence treatment outcomes, why quality of life matters alongside food variety, and how people can experience meaningful growth even when challenges remain. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of why conversations about ARFID often benefit from curiosity, flexibility, and a broader definition of recovery. Related Episodes When Safe Foods Stop Working: ARFID Plateaus, Burnout, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. ARFID Explained: What It Feels Like, Why It’s Misunderstood, & What Helps on Apple & Spotify. Why Sensory-Attuned Care Matters More Than Exposure in ARFID Treatment on Apple & Spotify. Complexities of Treating ARFID: How a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned Approach Works on Apple & Spotify. Learn More About ARFID If you're looking for neurodivergent-affirming support for ARFID and selective eating, check out Dr. Marianne Miller's self-paced ARFID & Selective Eating Course. Designed for adults with ARFID, parents, caregivers, and providers, the course explores sensory processing, nervous system regulation, autism, ADHD, family dynamics, food flexibility, accommodations, and practical strategies that move beyond shame, pressure, and one-size-fits-all approaches. Learn more at: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid About Dr. Marianne Miller Dr. Marianne Miller is a licensed marriage and family therapist, eating disorder therapist, and host of the Dr. Marianne-Land podcast. She specializes in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. Dr. Marianne developed the Neurodivergent-Affirming Integrative Therapy for ARFID (NAIT-AR) framework and provides therapy, coaching, courses, and educational resources for individuals, families, and professionals. Website: https://www.drmariannemiller.com Instagram: @drmariannemiller

    14 min

  8. Jun 10

    Family Food Rules & Body Image Issues: How Diet Culture Gets Passed Down Through Generations

    Have you ever wondered where your beliefs about food, weight, and body image actually came from? Many people assume their eating disorder, body dissatisfaction, or disordered eating patterns developed entirely from personal experiences. In reality, family food rules, generational diet culture, and inherited beliefs about bodies often shape our relationship with food long before we recognize what's happening. In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore how eating disorders can develop within family systems, why body shame often travels across generations, and what happens when you begin questioning the food and body rules you inherited. Through the story of a fictional client named Esme, we examine how childhood messages about weight, dieting, health, and appearance can become deeply embedded in adulthood, even when they were never spoken directly. Whether you're recovering from anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, ARFID, chronic dieting, or longstanding body image struggles, this conversation offers a compassionate look at the ways family history and diet culture can influence recovery. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn how family food rules shape eating behaviors and body image across generations, why children often absorb beliefs about food and weight without realizing it, and how multigenerational diet culture can contribute to eating disorders and disordered eating. You'll also learn why inherited beliefs often feel like facts, how anti-fat bias and cultural beauty standards influence family conversations about bodies, and why recovery frequently involves examining long-held assumptions about food, health, worth, and appearance. Why Family Systems Matter in Eating Disorder Recovery Eating disorders rarely develop in a vacuum. Many people grow up surrounded by messages about dieting, weight loss, body size, exercise, and food morality that seem completely normal at the time. Those messages often become part of a family's culture, shaping how people think about hunger, fullness, health, self-worth, and belonging. When clients begin recovery, they often discover that some of the rules guiding their relationship with food did not originate with them. Instead, those beliefs may have traveled through multiple generations, influenced by diet culture, weight stigma, sexism, anti-fat bias, food scarcity, trauma, and larger social systems. Recognizing these patterns can create opportunities for healing, self-compassion, and greater freedom around food. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for anyone recovering from an eating disorder, struggling with body image, questioning family food rules, or trying to understand how childhood experiences continue to affect their relationship with food. It may be especially helpful for people navigating anorexia recovery, binge eating recovery, bulimia recovery, ARFID recovery, chronic dieting, weight cycling, body image concerns, or the emotional impact of growing up in a family where weight and appearance received significant attention. Related Episodes Family Dynamics & Eating Disorders: How Early Relationships Shape Disordered Eating on Apple & Spotify. How Childhood Trauma Shapes Eating Disorders & Body Shame (Content Caution) on Apple & Spotify. Childhood Trauma & Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify. Work With Dr. Marianne Miller If you're struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, ARFID, binge eating, body image concerns, or the long-term effects of family food rules and diet culture, I offer eating disorder therapy and coaching services designed to help you build a more peaceful and sustainable relationship with food and your body. I specialize in ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, neurodivergent eating challenges, and eating disorder recovery for adults and teens. Learn more about working with me at www.drmariannemiller.com. Connect With Me Website: www.drmariannemiller.com Instagram: @drmariannemiller If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from this conversation.

    14 min
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About

Welcome to this mental health and eating disorder podcast by Dr. Marianne Miller, who is an eating disorder therapist and binge eating and ARFID course creator. In this podcast, Dr. Marianne explores the ins and outs of eating disorder recovery. It’s a top podcast for people struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), and any sort of distressed eating. We discuss topics like neurodiversity and eating disorders, self-compassion in eating disorder recovery, lived experience of eating disorders, LGBTQ+ and eating disorders, as well as anti-fat bias, weight-neutral fitness, muscularity-oriented issues, and body image. Dr. Marianne has been an eating disorder therapist for 13 years and has created a course on ARFID and selective eating, as well as a membership to help you recover from binge eating disorder and bulimia. Dr. Marianne has been in mental health for 28 years. Dr. Marianne is neurodivergent and works with a lot of neurodivergent folks. She has fully recovered from an eating disorder that lasted 25 years, and she wants to share her experience, knowledge, and recovery joy with you! Her interview episodes with top eating disorder professionals drop on Tuesdays. You can also tune in on Fridays when Dr. Marianne’s SOLO episodes that come out. You’ll hear personal stories, tips, and strategies to help you in your eating disorder recovery journey. If you’re struggling with food, eating, body image, and mental health, this podcast is for you!

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