Olivia Pillai Quinney

I don’t think there’s a clean, perfect answer to this, but I do think we need to talk about it. For years, we were told that commenting on women’s bodies is harmful. And honestly, that made sense. I grew up in the era of magazine covers ranking “best” and “worst” bodies, picking apart whether a celebrity was pregnant or just bloated after lunch. That kind of constant scrutiny doesn’t exist in a vacuum  - it shapes how people see themselves. I know it did for me. My eating disorder didn’t come...

Certain times of year can feel especially difficult, particularly for people with lived experience of eating disorders or disordered eating. Changes in light, routine, stress levels, and emotional demands can quietly intensify struggles around food, body image, control, and coping. If this season feels harder than expected, there is nothing wrong with you. These responses make sense. Why This Time of Year Can Be Challenging for Eating Disorder Recovery Disrupted routines and structure...

Imagine finally gathering the courage to say out loud: “I’m afraid of food.” “I’m scared of gaining weight.” “I can’t stop purging.” And then being told: “You don’t look  like you have an eating disorder.”   Or “Your BMI is still in the healthy range, so just keep doing what you’re doing.” For someone with an eating disorder, comments like these reinforce shame, silence, and secrecy — the very things that help the illness thrive. One of the cruelest myths about eating disorders is that they...