Shows
Beyond Binge EatingNeurobiology, Eating Disorders, Mental Health & Public Policy | Dr. Naomi Charalambakis WilkersonIn this podcast episode, I dive deep into the intricate and evolving world of eating disorder research with Dr. Naomi Charalambakis Wilkerson. Naomi shares with us her key learnings from her journey and we also explore the critical efforts in place to broaden understanding and develop more effective treatments in this complex field.Here’s what we’ll cover:The Push for Broader Understanding: Unpacking the journey and the significant challenges faced in expanding the scope of research and gaining recognition for lesser-known eating disorders.Neurobiological Insights: Naomi shar...2025-02-0638 min
Picture BlurrfectA Peek Inside Purging Disorder: Pamela Keel, PhDWe are BACK! After a hiatus where host Naomi Charalambakis Wilkerson learned some hard lessons during maternity leave AND starting a new job, Picture Blurrfect kicks off Season 4 with Dr. Pamela Keel of Florida State University! Author of "The Voide Inside: Bringing Purging Disorder to Light," Dr. Keel shares how she identified and named purging disorder, an entirely distinct eating disorder rather than a subset of another as long believed. Additionally, Dr. Keel shares the results of a recent paper her lab published that examines the relationship between plasma interleukin-6 levels (e.g., inflammation) and binge-eating spectrum disorders. 2024-10-091h 16Picture BlurrfectHope for the Holidays (& Our First Mailbag!)Naomi closes out Season 3 by reflecting on the interviews and experiences over the last year and for the first time, shares some questions she's gotten from you--the audience! How does one prepare for the holidays when in recovery? How do you approach someone you fear is struggling with an eating disorder? *Note: Picture Blurrfect will be taking a hiatus until June-July 2024 as Naomi welcomes her new baby girl into the world and learns how to be a mama! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you're struggling: naomi.charalambakis90@gmail.com 2023-12-1136 minPicture BlurrfectCan AI and Chatbots Help Eating Disorder Treatment?: Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, PhDDr. Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis joins the podcast to share her vision for how technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to improve accessibility of eating disorder treatments. Naomi and Dr. Fitzsimmons-Craft discuss her work with Tessa, a rule-based chatbot that the National Eating Disorders Association recently used (and took down) to prevent eating disorders and help folks with body image concerns. While technology is not yet perfect, there is incredible potential for these tools to improve accessibility and enable more people to get the care they deserve. Learn...2023-10-3059 minPicture BlurrfectOvercoming Food GuiltYours truly takes the microphone to share her thoughts on how to overcoming "feeling guilty" after eating certain foods or meals while in eating disorder recovery. Just because you FEEL guilty doesn't necessarily mean there is something you SHOULD feel guilty about. Book Naomi Mentions:1. The Weight of Beautiful by Jackie GoldschneiderNote: Please do not read until you feel strong and comfortable in your recovery2023-10-1627 minPicture BlurrfectThe Association Between Adolescent Weight Perception and Disordered Eating: Sam Hahn, PhD, MPH, RDDr. Sam Hahn of Central Michigan University joins the podcast to discuss one of her recent papers that examines how weight perception--how one personally views themselves in terms of overweight, normal weight, underweight--and its potential changes throughout adolescence could predict disordered eating patterns in young adulthood. The episode also touches on Dr. Hahn's interest in investigating how other self-monitoring behaviors (self-weighing, electronic tracking devices, etc.) influences eating patterns, mood, and weight-related behaviors, particularly for vulnerable populations and young adults. Papers Discussed in the Episode:1. Hahn et al., (2023): Do Weight Perception Transitions in Adolescents Predict...2023-09-1849 minPicture BlurrfectHow the Prefrontal Cortex is Involved in Food-Related Decision Making: Rachel Ross, MD, PhDTime to geek out a little bit this week because who doesn't love to talk about the brain!? Naomi sits down with Dr. Rachel Ross of Albert Einstein College of Medicine to chat about her latest publication in Physiology & Behavior that examines how a specific receptor in the prefrontal cortex--the very front part of our brain--influences food-related decision making. Dr. Ross shares the implications of her findings in the mouse model and how it could shape future research directions in studying food intake and associated behaviors, including eating disorders. Paper Mentioned in the Episode:1...2023-08-281h 03Picture BlurrfectEating, Activity, & the Impact of Weight-Related Problems: Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPHNaomi sits down with Dr. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer of the University of Minnesota to chat about how she became interested in weight-related problems among young people, and how this work culminated into her now thriving research lab, "Project EAT" (Eating and Activity over Time). Topics that emerge from the discussion include: yoga and mindfulness and its connection to eating disorder/disordered eating recovery, the role of family meals in the development of weight-related problems, and her book, "'I'm, Like, So Fat!': Helping Your Teen Make Healthy Choices about Eating and Exercise in a Weight-Obsessed World."More...2023-08-0751 minPicture BlurrfectWhy Do We Overlook Disabilities in Eating Disorder Research?: Ruth Knight, PhDNaomi sits down with Dr. Ruth Knight of York St. John University to explore why we often forget to talk about disability when it comes to eating disorder/disordered eating research. As we strive to be more inclusive and representative in our research, are we making the effort to ask individuals with lived experience what they are going through and adjust research instruments/methodologies accordingly? Additionally, Dr. Knight shares her new paper in Journal of Eating Disorders that seeks to understand the effects of gender and sexual orientation on disordered eating. Paper Mentioned in the Episode:2023-07-0352 minPicture BlurrfectA Rant About Our Healthcare SystemNaomi lets it rip about her views on the healthcare workforce and their treatment of eating disorders/mental conditions after her recent experience at the doctor. The lack of insurance coverage for mental conditions (and especially eating disorders) and the nonstop news about Ozempic/Wegovy were also thrown in the rant for good measure. If you have faced discriminstration at the doctor given your mental condition, or have been denied coverage for your eating disorder treatment, I want to hear from you for a potential future episode! Contact Picture Blurrfect:Twitter: @BlurrfectInstagram: @Pi...2023-06-1943 minPicture BlurrfectProject Body Neutrality & Scalable Mental Health: Jessica Schleider, PhDThe lovely Jessica Schleider, PhD of Stonybrook University (soon to be Northwestern!) joins the podcast to discuss her latest paper in the International Journal of Eating Disorders that focuses on data from Project Body Neutrality. Results are promising and indicative of the effectiveness of brief, accessible interventions in reducing mental health problems, including disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and depression. Join us to learn all about single-session interventions (SSIs), body neutrality, scalable mental health, and next steps for Dr. Schleider's lab! Paper Discussed in the Episode:1. Smith et al., 2023: Project Body Neutrality: Piloting a digital...2023-05-2943 minPicture BlurrfectHow the Fear of Being Judged Influences Body Image: Nora Trompeter, PhDYou ever how the fear of people's perception of you changes how you see yourself, particularly when it comes to your weight and body image? Naomi sits down with Dr. Nora Trompeter (University College London) to discuss her latest paper on the bidirectional relationship between negative evaluation (e.g., the fear of being judged) and weight/shape concerns. Naomi and Dr. Trompeter discuss the implications of this study and its potential impact in improving preventive care for eating disorders/disordered eating. Paper Discussed in the Episode:1. Trompeter et al., 2023: Examination of bidirectional relationships between...2023-05-1544 minPicture BlurrfectLessons from Lived Experience: Brianne LeesonNaomi sits down with Brianne Leeson to share her story on how she started recovery for anorexia at the age 15 but wasn't diagnosed as autistic and ADHD until much later in life. Brianne sheds light on how autistic individuals often don't experience hunger the same way as others, and her relationship with food changed when she finally learned she was also experiencing ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). As an LGBTQIA woman, Naomi and Brianne also chat about how prevalent eating disorders are among this population and the stigma that still very much exists, particularly in more southern states. 2023-05-0159 minPicture BlurrfectFinding Your Identity Apart from the Eating DisorderWe all know how quickly (and dangerously) an eating disorder can strip us of our identity... to the point where we are convinced there IS no life away from the eating disorder. How do you re-establish your sense of self in recovery? How do you become someone that's not defined by the eating disorder? Naomi shares her thoughts. Help is always available. Check out these resources:NEDA Helpline - Call or Text: (800) 931-2237NEDA WebsiteContact Picture Blurrfect:Twitter: @BlurrfectInstagram: @Picture_BlurrfectE-mail: naomi.charalambakis90@gmail.com 2023-04-0342 minPicture BlurrfectEating Disorders in Men & LGBTQIA+ Individuals: Tiffany Brown, PhDNaomi sits down with Dr. Tiffany Brown of Auburn University who studies eating disorders in populations that are frequently overlooked, particularly men and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Turns out, we are just starting to uncover data and trends about these groups. Dr. Brown shares her research on day hospital treatment outcomes among sexual minority patients as well as the efficacy of cognitive dissonance-based interventions among gay males. Towards the end of the conversation, Dr. Brown shares next steps for her lab and future research opportunities. Papers Discussed in the Episode:1. Donahue et al., (2020): Examining day hospital...2023-03-1558 minPicture BlurrfectLet's Talk About Intermittent Fasting: Jordan Schueler, MSGrad student spotlight! The first one for Season 3. Jordan Schueler, Clinical Psychology PhD student at Texas A&M University joins the podcast to share her research on intermittent fasting and its relation to binge eating, impulsivity, among other behaviors. Jordan also talks about her dissertation work looking at the effectiveness of tele-health vs. in-person intervention for eating disorder treatment and shares her experience and advice on grad school. Paper Mentioned in the Episode:1. Schueler et al., 2023: Group differences in binge eating, impulsivity, and intuitive and mindful eating among intermittent fasters and non-fasters2023-02-2746 minPicture BlurrfectIs Orthorexia Another Form of Anorexia? Ft. C. Alix Timko, PhDDr. Alix Timko of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia sits down with Naomi to discuss one of her recent paper how we diagnose and effectively classify orthorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that's characterized by a fixation on food purity and an avoidance of "unhealthy foods." Dr. Timko makes the case that orthorexia is not a "new" or separate eating disorder, but rather a cultural manifestation of anorexia nervosa. She and Naomi also chat about her research into sex differences in adolescent anorexia and bulimia, and the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with her patients.Papers R...2023-02-1357 minPicture BlurrfectImproving Racial & Ethnic Diversity in Eating Disorder Research: Amy Egbert, PhDIn the second episode of Season 3, Naomi sits down with Dr. Amy Egbert of the University of Connecticut to talk about her research on eating disorders and disordered eating patterns among youth from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds. Importantly, Dr. Egbert discusses her investigation into how race and ethnicity have been reported in eating disorder studies over the last 20 years, including the trends and long-term implications. As another area of research interest, Naomi and Amy also touch on how food marketing plays a role in the development of disordered eating and eating disorders. As a new faculty at UConn, Naomi...2023-01-3049 minPicture BlurrfectSo the New AAP Guidelines Are Out...Welcome to Season 3! Naomi spends the first episode of season three breaking down the new childhood obesity guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics early this year. The first set of guidelines issued in 15 years, the document states that children as young as 12 can be prescribed weight loss pharmacotherapy and adolescents as young as 13 (previously 16) can receive a referral for metabolic/bariatric surgery so long as certain qualifications are met. Did the document discuss the risk of eating disorders? Did it mention disordered eating and weight stigma? Tune in to find out.AAP Guidelines:...2023-01-1743 minPicture BlurrfectWhy Do I "Feel Fat"? Ft. Lisa Anderson, PhD, LPIn the final (!) episode of Season 2, Dr. Lisa Anderson of the University of Minnesota joins Picture Blurrfect to share her research exploring the link between "feeling fat," interoceptive awareness, and feelings such as guilt, depression, and disgust. As a fairly new area of study, Dr. Anderson and Naomi discuss how these results could inform future research and, more importantly, potential treatment/therapy options for patients with eating disorders.Picture Blurrfect will resume in January 2023! Stay tuned!Papers Discussed in the Episode:1) Morales et al., 2022: Exploring the contribution of affective constructs and interoceptive...2022-12-2149 minPicture BlurrfectWhen Neuroscience & Clinical Science Unite: Ann Haynos, PhDDr. Ann Haynos joins the podcast to share all about how her research uses neuroscience to inform clinical interventions. First, Dr. Haynos explains the role of studying "resting state functional connectivity" in eating disorders, and the parts of the brain involved in reward processing; it's especially fascinating to hear how it compares between eating disorder patients and healthy individuals. Then, Dr. Haynos shares how Positive Affect Treatment (PAT), a form of therapy used to treat mood/anxiety disorders, has been recently adapted to help anorexia nervosa treatment. Papers Referenced in the Episode:1. Haynos et...2022-11-141h 07Picture BlurrfectMale Eating Disorders - Prevalence in Preadolescence & Vitamin D Levels: Jason Nagata, MDJason Nagata, MD, MS, from the University of California San Francisco joins the podcast to share his recent work in examining the prevalence of preadolescent eating disorders in the U.S. Additionally, Dr. Nagata explains the role and importance of vitamin D in eating disorder recovery, sharing recent results he recently published on vitamin D levels among males hospitalized for eating disorders. The results further underscore just how understudied male eating disorders are. Papers Mentioned in the Episode:1. Murray et al., 2022: The Prevalence of Preadolescent Eating Disorders in the United States2. Nagata et...2022-10-1744 minPicture BlurrfectAnother Day, Another StigmaNaomi shares what she's been personally going through over the last 1.5 years but has been wary of opening up due to the sheer stigma of the topic... unfortunately, though, so many individuals go through this particular struggle and it is one that has the potential of wrecking your recovery alongside your mental and emotional wellbeing. If you're struggling with a challenging life circumstance, it's important to stay grounded--have your support system in tow and the strength to be transparent every step of the way, especially if you are tempted to revert back to old, unhealthy behaviors. 2022-09-2628 minPicture BlurrfectHow Instagram Negatively Affects Mental HealthNaomi revisits The Wall Street Journal expose on how Facebook was made aware of internal research data showing the negative impacts of its app Instagram on young people and failed to act. What did the expose say and have we made any progress in making social media a positive tool for young people? Why DOES Instagram suck us into the "compare and despair" spiral and what does that mean for eating disorder recovery? To read the WSJ expose, click here. The 2017 TIME Magazine article Naomi references can be accessed here, which cites a survey from the U...2022-09-0545 minPicture BlurrfectLessons from Lived Experience: Aggie, Blanca, and AdamTRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains details about eating and exercises habits related to eating disorders. Please ensure you are in a safe place mentally and emotionally before listening, and seek help if you need assistance (resources below).In a very special episode of Picture Blurrfect, Aggie, Blanca, and Adam join the podcast to share their story of living with and recovering from an eating disorder--the challenges, the triggers, and the life changes. Importantly, the group discusses just how rewarding (but terrifying) the step towards recovery is. But life on the other side is so much better. We...2022-08-221h 04Picture BlurrfectWeight-Based Bullying: Janet Lydecker, PhDNaomi chats with Dr. Janet Lydecker of Yale University about weight-based bullying: what it is, what it looks like, and how we can begin to address it as a scientific and clinical community. In addition to sharing some of weight bullying's key characteristics, Dr. Lydecker explains the association between weight stigma and bullying, and how parents/teachers/loved ones can facilitate a dialogue about this issue. There's plenty more research to conduct on this topic, and Dr. Lydecker is paving the way to uncover it.Dr. Lydecker is the head of Yale's POWER lab: Program for Obesity...2022-08-0847 minPicture BlurrfectThe Neurobiology Underlying Anorexia: Yong Xu, MD, PhDDr. Xu of Baylor College of Medicine joins the podcast to share his latest work on how a particular brain circuit contributes to anorexia nervosa, the psychiatric disease characterized by fear of gaining weight and severe food restriction. Dr. Xu explains how dopamine and serotonin neurons in the brain regulate feeding behavior and often communicate with each other. Importantly, new research from his lab shows how the strength of that communication determined how much animals ate and exercised, thereby allowing researchers to elucidate the mechanisms underlying anorexia. Paper Referenced in the Episode:1. Cai et al., 2022: A...2022-07-2545 minPicture BlurrfectEating Disorders & Muscle-Building Behaviors in Men: Kyle Ganson, PhD, LICSW, LCSWNaomi chats with Dr. Kyle Ganson from the University of Toronto about his research on eating disorders in men--why it is under researched and not talked about enough. Additionally, Dr. Ganson shares his research on muscle-enhancing / muscularity-oriented behaviors in the male population by sharing the risk factors and potential treatments. Like with all eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors, this issue is very complex and more research is needed. Papers Mentioned in the Episode:1) Ganson & Rodgers, 2022: Problematic muscularity-oriented behaviors: Overview, key gaps, and ideas for future research2) Ganson et al., 2021: Last word: A...2022-07-1156 minPicture BlurrfectSo What Exactly Is Intuitive Eating? - Blair Burnette, PhDNaomi chats with Dr. Blair Burnette of the University of Minnesota about her research on intuitive eating and how this framework could be incorporated into treatment/recovery plans for eating disorders and disordered eating. While most people drill this concept down to "eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full," Dr. Burnette explains the nuance and complexities associated with intuitive eating. Additionally, Dr. Burnette discusses the many barriers to access intuitive eating and how social media has influenced the way society talks about this issue as a whole.Paper Referenced in the Episode: 1) B...2022-06-271h 04Picture BlurrfectWhy Body Image Concerns Are Not Just a "Teenage Problem": Katie ThompsonBack-to-back graduate student spotlights! Naomi chats with the fabulous Katie Thompson, clinical psychology PhD student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill about body image concerns beyond the teenage years--midlife, postpartum, menopause, and more. Along these lines, Naomi and Katie also discuss how much our culture pressures us to not allow our bodies to change. There's a major disconnect between what the world tells us to look like and biological reality.Papers Referenced in the Episode:1. Thompson & Bardone-Cone, (2022): Self-Oriented Body Comparison and Self-Compassion: Interactive Models of Disordered Eating Behaviors Among Postpartum Women2022-06-131h 05Picture BlurrfectObsessive Compulsive Disorder & EDs, Weight Stigma, & Pursuing Graduate School: Shruti Kinkel-Ram, M.A.Graduate student spotlight! Naomi chats with soon-to-be Dr. Shruti Kinkel-Ram (@shrutikinkelram) of Miami University all about her research, including her Master's thesis on the connection between obsessive compulsive disorder and eating disorders as well as her current work on examining the relationship between interception and weight stigma. Naomi and Shruti also discuss life in graduate school more generally--the good, the bad... & the ugly (just kidding). Papers Referenced in the Episode:1) Kinkel-Ram et al., 2021: Relations between implicit attitudes towards eating disorder stimuli and disordered eating symptoms among at-risk college women (Link)2) Kinkel-Ram et al., 2021...2022-05-2347 minPicture BlurrfectEating Disorders: Not Just in Young People! Lisa Kilpela, PhDPicture Blurrfect tackles yet another eating disorder myth: that these diseases occur only in young people. Dr. Lisa Kilpela of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio joins the show to share how she studies eating disorder pathologies and body image in older women, what she and her team have found thus far, and how this research can inform future treatment strategies. Join Naomi for a quick detour at the beginning of the episode on her recent trip to her North Carolina which confirmed how much she hates calorie counts on restaurant menus!...2022-05-0257 minPicture BlurrfectThe Neurobiology of Bulimia Nervosa: Laura Berner, PhDDr. Laura Berner of Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai joins Picture Blurrfect to share her research that investigates the neurobiological mechanisms underlying bulimia nervosa. Tune in to learn about which parts of the brain are most involved when individuals feel a "loss of control" and how this research can inform future pharmacological and therapeutic interventions. Paper referenced in the episode:1) Berner et al., 2022 - Altered prefrontal activation during the inhibition of eating responses in women with bulimia nervosa.Follow Picture Blurrfect on social media! And if you like what you hear, please...2022-04-1850 minPicture BlurrfectHow Food Insecurity Influences Eating Disorder Pathology: Carolyn Becker, PhDDr. Carolyn Becker of Trinity University joins Picture Blurrfect to discuss her research on how food insecurity -- people living without reliable access to food -- influences the development of eating disorders. As food insecurity worsens, the level of eating disorder pathology increases. Dr. Becker's work challenges what we think we know about eating disorders and can not only help inform future research but also economic policies that impact food insecurity across the globe.To read more about Dr. Becker's work on this topic:1) Food insecurity and eating disorder pathology - Becker et al., 20172022-04-0453 min