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Tools for Recovery MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Tools for Recovery MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Why Diets don’t Work: The Evidence

The promise of a quick fix through dieting is tempting, but does it actually work? Science says no. Most diets don’t work in the long run, leaving people caught in a frustrating cycle of weight loss and regain. Why? From biological survival mechanisms to the flaws of diet culture itself, the evidence is clear: dieting isn't the answer. Discover why the system is broken—and explore a healthier, more sustainable path to well-being.

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Tools for Recovery MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Tools for Recovery MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Body Weight Set Point: When the Shoe Fits…

The "shoe size analogy" is an illustrative concept used to help individuals understand that just as our feet have a unique, natural size, so too does our body have a weight range that is healthy and natural for us. This analogy can be especially helpful in eating disorder recovery, body image struggles, and the fight against societal pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards.

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MELISSA GERSON, LCSW MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Compulsive Eating: What It Is and How You Can Recover

Compulsive eating, often driven by emotional distress, involves consuming excessive amounts of food beyond physical hunger and can be managed through professional support, cognitive-behavioral therapies, emotional regulation strategies, and developing healthier coping mechanisms.

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Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Yikes: New WW Dieting App for Kids

WW (the company formerly known as Weight Watchers) recently released a free weight loss app called Kurbo that targets children and young adults, ages 8-17. There are a number of unanswered questions about this new app and the risks it might pose to young people.

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Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Think Values, Not Goals for 2019

Values are statements or expressions about how you wish to behave, about what really matters to you, about what is most important. Like a compass, values give us direction.

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Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Food My Frenemy: Response

With a heavy heart, I read a recent New York Times piece called “Food My Frenemy” by Jen Gunter. In the piece, Ms. Gunter shares her agonizing struggle with a lifetime of binge eating - and the self-loathing and shame that can come along with it. She also references her ongoing battle with weight management in the shadow of her binge eating disorder.

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Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

Challenges of Recovery in Ballet Culture

It’s no secret that ballet culture celebrates a long, lean figure. The pressure on ballet dancers to maintain this aesthetic is constant and for many can lead to battling food/body struggles throughout ones’ career.

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Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW Blog MELISSA GERSON, LCSW

The Dangers of Weight Bias

The effects of weight stigma include poor body image, low self-esteem, binge eating, extreme weight control measures, and psychological problems such as depression and eating disorders. Those who experience bullying as a result of weight bias are likely to experience one or more of these issues.

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