In this episode of The Body Grievers Club, Bri sits down with Registered Dietitian and Intuitive Eating Counselor Jenna Talleda. They talk about what it really looks like to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office. Together, they unpack the realities of weight stigma in healthcare, the pressure to shrink as a provider in a larger body, and the emotional labor of holding boundaries when your care is on the line.
Bri and Jenna name the hidden agendas behind routine weigh-ins, the harm of ignoring eating disorder histories, and the frustration of being gaslit by providers who reduce complex health concerns to a number on the scale. This conversation isn’t just about weight. It’s about agency, self-advocacy, and refusing to co-sign harmful narratives about your body.
They also explore the people-pleasing tendencies that make “no” so hard to say, why fawning is a trauma response, and how anger can sometimes be the most protective force in recovery. If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, shamed, or unheard, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone, and your boundaries matter.
TIMESTAMPS:
02:05 What weight stigma looks like in healthcare
05:20 Correlation vs. causation in weight + health
08:40 The pressure of being a provider in a larger body
12:10 Imposter syndrome + perfectionism in the work
15:45 Saying no at the doctor’s office: Jenna’s story
20:25 People-pleasing, fawning, and boundary holding
24:10 Anger as protection + why your boundaries matter
27:00 Advice for advocating for yourself at appointments
RESOURCES:
Other episodes mentioned:
Ep 29: Healing the Medical Narrative
Ep 36: Advocating For Yourself at the Doctor
Bri’s Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance
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