3.9 The Wellness Trap with Christy Harrison
Summary
Today’s episode is a bonus one in our series on Simplified Wellness.
We are joined by the author of the new book, “The Wellness Trap” – Christy Harrison.
During this interview Christy explains the trap people can fall into when trying to pursue wellness after not finding what they need in conventional sources, and how what seems like the pursuit of health can quickly spiral into an unhealthy obsession.
We discussed myths and misinformation that is circulating, and how you can determine if a particular wellness strategy is the right choice for you.
Christy shared some powerful tips to help you prioritize well being without falling into the wellness trap.
About Our Guest
Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified intuitive eating counselor, and journalist who has been covering food, nutrition, and health for more than 20 years. She is the author of two books, The Wellness Trap and Anti-Diet, and the producer and host of the podcasts Rethinking Wellness and Food Psych, which have helped tens of thousands of people around the world think critically about diet and wellness culture and develop more peaceful relationships with food.
You can find Christy here:
https://www.instagram.com/chr1styharrison/
https://www.facebook.com/christyharrisonnutrition
Mentioned in the Show
Christy’s new book, The Wellness Trap is available now, wherever books are sold.
About the Host
Kim Hagle (she/her) is Certified Personal Trainer, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Body Image Coach and founder of Radiant Vitality Wellness.
Through mindset and movement coaching she helps women think differently about food and exercise so they can feel healthy, happy and confident without obsessing over the scale.
If you are ready for 1:1 coaching, reach out and book a call with Kim to see if you’re a good fit to work together. During your call, Kim will help you identify the source of your struggle; highlight the beliefs that are keeping you stuck and identify the steps to change. At the end of the 30 minute session, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to get the result you want and you can decide if coaching would be a good next step for you.
Book your call here: https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=23808721&appointmentType=25631301
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Let’s stay in touch!
Kim is on Instagram and Facebook @radiantvitalitywellness.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a health care professional about your unique needs.
Tired of Food Rules, Feeling Deprived and Torturing yourself with exercise?
Download our FREE Guide – “5 Steps to Feel Healthy, Happy and Confident – Without Obsessing Over the Scale”. www.radiantvitality.ca/healthyhappyconfident
Detailed Synopsis
The pursuit of wellness can become an unhealthy obsession, and the quest for health can feel like chasing a moving target that is always out of reach. In this episode, our guest, Christy Harrison, who wrote the book “The Wellness Trap,” shared her own experience with seeking out wellness and how it led to disordered eating and health problems. She also noted that many people struggle with the notion of wellness that is sold to us in our culture. The episode warns about the dangers of seeking out unproven restrictive diets, supplement regimens, and other types of wellness culture practices that are not evidence-based and can go against conventional healthcare wisdom. The guest speaker emphasizes the importance of accepting that there are no guarantees of perfect health and that sometimes we may have to manage chronic conditions. Overall, the episode highlights the need to approach wellness with a balanced and evidence-based mindset rather than getting caught up in the promises of quick fixes and miracle cures.
The speakers in the episode discussed the challenge of navigating information about alternative therapies and distinguishing what is scientifically validated from what is not. They emphasized the importance of looking at the quality of evidence behind claims and suggested using resources like PubMed, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses to evaluate the evidence. They also recommended looking up reputable medical organizations and mainstream media sources to see what they have to say about a claim. The speakers acknowledged that not everything related to health can be explained by traditional medicine and that people may turn to alternative therapies out of desperation for healing. However, they cautioned against blindly accepting claims without considering the risks and unknowns, especially when dealing with early stage research that is not yet ready for clinical decision-making. They encouraged practitioners and clients alike to be mindful of the risks and to seek true information about alternative therapies.
The speaker in the episode discussed how early stage science can be used to justify recommendations that are not necessarily in people’s best interest. They caution both consumers and practitioners to be aware of the risks and unknowns when pursuing wellness. The speaker mentions that many wellness practices, such as unproven restrictive diets and supplement regimens, do not have good evidence behind them and may go against conventional healthcare wisdom. They also note that the wellness industry is a huge global industry with a profit motive, and that even if someone is critical of conventional healthcare, it does not necessarily mean that the alternative being offered is any better. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being mindful of the risks and unknowns involved in pursuing wellness, and being open about the limitations of early stage science when experimenting with oneself or offering experimental advice to patients. Overall, the speaker advocates for a cautious and informed approach to pursuing wellness.
