What the Minnesota Starvation Study Teaches Us About Eating Disorders

When Are You Ready for Intuitive Eating?

In this episode, Talia Cecchele breaks down what intuitive eating truly is, dispelling common myths and exploring its core principles. Whether you're recovering from disordered eating or looking to foster a healthier relationship with food, this episode provides clear guidance on how to approach intuitive eating at different stages of your journey. Episodes drop every Thursday.  What You’ll Learn: * Clarifying common misconceptions about intuitive eating, such as it being about just eating whatever you want, when you want * The 10 principles of intuitive eating and how they support a compassionate, anti-diet approach  * How you can apply the different principles at different stages of recovery * When and how to transition into intuitive eating during recovery from disordered eating Resources & Links: * Intuitive Eating, 4th Edition: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach, by Elise Resch and Evelyn Tribole * Intuitive Eating Official Website - https://www.intuitiveeating.org Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding Intuitive Eating 03:32 The Principles of Intuitive Eating 20:00 Navigating the Journey to Intuitive Eating 21:54 – The importance of physical and psychological readiness to embrace intuitive eating  30:03 Indicators of Readiness for Intuitive Eating Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

GLP-1 Medications, Food Noise & Weight Stigma | With Aoife McMahon

GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now, but are they appropriate to use in the context of healing relationship with food and long-term wellbeing? In this episode of Food is Food, Talia is joined by eating disorder dietitian Aoife McMahon for a compassionate, nuanced conversation about GLP-1 medications, weight stigma and food noise. Together, they chat about how GLP-1 medications work, why they’ve become so popular, and the growing concerns around nutrition, food preoccupation, eating disorder risk, and long-term outcomes. They also explore the rise of the term “food noise,” the impact of diet culture and healthcare stigma, and why individualised care matters so much. Episodes drop every Thursday. What You’ll Learn: * What GLP-1 medications are and how they influence appetite, fullness, and food pleasure * The potential nutritional risks and side effects associated with GLP-1 medications * How GLP-1 use may intersect with disordered eating, eating disorders, and food preoccupation * Why “food noise” may actually reflect hunger, restriction, or disconnection from body cues * The role weight stigma and healthcare inequality play in access to GLP-1 medications Resources & Links: * Follow Aoife on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatirishdietitian/ [https://www.instagram.com/thatirishdietitian/]  * Aoife’s website: www.c [http://www.c/]entreforliberatingnutrition.com [https://centreforliberatingnutrition.com/] * Listen to Aoife McMahon’s podcast: Inside Bariatrics [https://open.spotify.com/show/033nYDCJmhWHC3zZ8Uh3H7?si=ac14e5d0d42d42f8] Key Research Referenced: Ryan, D. H. et al. (2024). Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial. Nature Medicine, 30(7), 2049–2057. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02996-7 [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02996-7] Ragen Chastain Substack Article [https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/does-this-semaglutide-wegovy-study?utm_source=publication-search] About our Guest: Aoife McMahon is a CORU and HCPC Registered Dietitian specialising in relationship with food, body image, and inclusive nutrition care. Aoife has extensive experience across bariatric care, GLP-1 support, and weight management services. She is passionate about helping people navigate these complex decisions with less shame and more autonomy, recognising that the desire to pursue weight loss is deeply understandable in a world where weight loss products, treatments, and messaging are everywhere. Aoife is the host of podcast: Inside Bariatrics. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction 01:02 – What GLP-1 medications are and how they work 05:00 – Appetite suppression, food pleasure & side effects 07:16 – Safe GLP-1 use in eating disorder recovery 17:40 – Why relationship with food support matters alongside GLP-1s 19:38 – Weight stigma, healthcare inequality & access to medications 25:05 – What the research says about long-term GLP-1 outcomes 29:00 – Weight stigma in healthcare settings 36:58 – “Food noise” vs food preoccupation explained Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

Are Supplements A Waste of Money? | With Josie Porter

Are supplements really necessary — or is the wellness industry overselling them? In this episode of Food is Food, Talia is joined by registered dietitian and author Josie Porter to chat about some of the most popular supplements trending online right now, including creatine, magnesium, electrolytes, collagen, probiotics, NMNs, CoQ10, and omega-3s. Together, they explore what the research actually says, where supplements may be helpful, and why a food-first approach still matters most. This conversation cuts through fear-based wellness messaging around longevity and offers an evidence-informed perspective.  Whether you’re curious about supplements, feeling overwhelmed by wellness trends, or wondering which supplements are actually worth your money, this episode will help you make more informed decisions. Episodes drop every Thursday. What You’ll Learn: * How to approach supplements through a food-first, non-diet lens * The difference between promising research and marketing hype * How supplement regulation works in the UK * When supplements may genuinely be supportive or necessary Resources & Links: * Josie Porter’s new book: How Not To Take Supplements (out on June 4th) * US Probiotic Guide: https://usprobioticguide.com/ [https://usprobioticguide.com/] About our Guest: Josie Porter is a registered dietitian with a special interest in binge eating disorder, weight management, women's health and gut health. She has worked across leading NHS services and in private practice. You can find Josie on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dietitianjosie/].  Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction 00:54 – What are NMNs and do they actually support longevity? 04:34 – CoQ10, heart health, and antioxidant claims 09:03 – Creatine: performance benefits vs online hype 13:58 – Supplement regulation and safety concerns in the UK 17:33 – Greens powders, liver health, and “natural” marketing 20:01 – Electrolytes: who actually needs them? 24:17 – Magnesium supplements for sleep and constipation 33:07 – Omega-3 supplements and bridging nutritional gaps 36:56 – Probiotics: what the science really says 44:19 – Collagen for skin, joints, and healthy ageing 48:32 – Final thoughts on a food-first approach to supplements Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

Get Your Period Back: HA, RED-S And Disordered Eating | With Elle Kelly

In this episode of Food is Food, Talia sits down with sports nutritionist & disordered eating dietitian Elle Kelly to chat about hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), RED-S, low energy availability, and the impact of under-fuelling on the body.  They discuss why losing your period can happen at any body size, the role of carbohydrates and energy distribution in recovery, and why getting your period back is about so much more than fertility. This conversation also challenges common misconceptions around exercise, calorie targets, and what “healthy” really looks like. Episodes drop every Thursday. What You’ll Learn: *  What hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) and RED-S actually are  *  Why period loss can happen at any weight or body size  *  The hidden signs of low energy availability beyond losing your period  *  Why carbohydrates and adequate fuelling matter for hormone health  *  The importance of energy distribution throughout the day  *  Whether you really need to stop exercising to recover your cycle  *  Why getting your period back is about overall health — not just fertility  Resources & Links: * Follow Elle Kelly on Instagram: @ellekellynutrition  * Elle's email: elle@eknutrition.com [elle@eknutrition.com] About our Guest: Elle is a registered dietitian and sports dietitian specialising in disordered eating, sports nutrition & period recovery. After working in acute eating disorders and whilst doing her masters in sports nutrition, Elle recognised the crossover of disordered eating in the athlete space and has spent the last few years growing her clinic and developing the Refuel & Revive program which supports active women and athletes to develop a healthy relationship with food, exercise and their bodies, so they can get their period back to support their performance and life.  Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction  02:00 – What is hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA)?  05:15 – Understanding a “normal” menstrual cycle  08:15 – HA vs RED-S: what’s the difference?  13:00 – Is 2500 calories enough to recover your period?  16:00 – Carbohydrates, exercise & hormone health  21:00 – Energy distribution and under-fuelling throughout the day  24:15 – Do you need to stop exercising to recover your period?  28:50 – Why recovery isn’t just about energy in vs energy out  29:30 – “Why would I want my period back?” Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

What the Minnesota Starvation Study Teaches Us About Eating Disorders

In this episode of Food is Food, Talia breaks down one of the most important studies in eating disorder research — the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, led by Ancel Keys in 1944. This is one of Talia's favourite topics to discuss in clinic, and she gets vulnerable about a major gap in her own knowledge: the fourth phase of the study, which most clinicians don't talk about.  From the physical and psychological impact of restriction, to the emergence of binge eating and purging behaviours in men with no prior history of eating disorders, this episode is essential listening for anyone in recovery from an eating disorder, working through disordered eating, or simply wanting to understand what under-eating does to the human body and mind. Episodes drop every Thursday. What You’ll Learn: * The four phases of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment and the physical, psychological and behaviour changes that occur in semi-starvation * The biology of "Food Obsession": learn why hoarding recipes, dreaming of food, and ritualistic eating are often biological responses to malnutrition rather than personality traits or the eating disorder itself.  * Understanding Compensatory Hyperphagia: the "unsatiable" hunger that often follows a period of restriction * Using the landmark 1944 study to understand that physical and psychological symptoms of starvation are reversible through consistent, adequate nutritional rehabilitation.  Key Research Referenced: * Keys, A., Brozek, J., Henschel, A., Mickelson, O., & Taylor, H.L. (1950). The biology of human starvation (Vols. 1–2). University of Minnesota Press. * Kalm, L.M. & Semba, R.D. (2005). They starved so that others be better fed: Remembering Ancel Keys and the Minnesota Experiment. Journal of Nutrition, 135(6), 1347–1352. * Dulloo AG. Physiology of weight regain: Lessons from the classic Minnesota Starvation Experiment on human body composition regulation. Obesity Reviews. 2021;22(S2):e13189. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13189DULLOO [https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13189DULLOO] * Tucker, T. (2007). The great starvation experiment: Ancel Keys and the men who starved for science. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. Episode Timestamps: * 00:00 – Welcome & introduction to the Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study.  * 04:05 – Phase 1: The Control Period.  * 06:25 – Phase 2: The Semi-Starvation Period. The physical and psychological impact of undereating * 12:24 – Phase 2: Behavioral changes * 16:40 – Phase 3: Controlled Rehabilitation. Why low-calorie "re-feeding" didn't work and the need for high energy intake.  * 21:00 – Phase 4: The Unrestricted Phase. Compensatory hyperphagia and the reality of extreme hunger.  * 25:46 – Long-term Follow-up. Insights on weight overshoot, body composition, and total symptom reversal.  * 33:27 – Closing thoughts: Finding hope in nutritional rehabilitation.  Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.