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Beyond Bias & BMI: Rethinking Eating Disorder Treatment for All Bodies

Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button.

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Episode Summary: Eating disorders are complex, multifaceted conditions that require equally nuanced and comprehensive treatment. In this episode of The Affirming Minds Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Lauren Yadlosky, Clinical Director of the Eating Disorders Program at Montefiore (EDPM), and Dr. Alexis Richards, Medical Director of EDPM. They bring their expertise on the interdisciplinary approach to eating disorder treatment, the role of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the systemic barriers preventing marginalized communities from receiving proper diagnoses and care.

We explore the intersectionality of eating disorders, discussing how weight bias, socioeconomic disparities, and structural inequities impact treatment accessibility and outcomes. Our guests also highlight the critical role of integrating medical and psychological care, demonstrating how a multidisciplinary approach enhances patient recovery. Whether you’re a clinician, caregiver, or someone seeking a deeper understanding of eating disorder treatment, this episode is packed with essential insights.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • The roles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT) in eating disorder care
  • How systemic health disparities and weight bias impact diagnosis and treatment
  • The importance of integrating medical and psychological care for better patient outcomes
  • Challenges and benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in eating disorder treatment
  • The influence of cultural and socioeconomic factors on recovery
  • How clinicians can reduce barriers to care and provide more inclusive, patient-centered treatment

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About Our Guests:

  • Lauren Yadlosky, PhD
    • Clinical Director, Eating Disorders Program at Montefiore (EDPM)
    • Attending Psychologist, Child/Adolescent Outpatient Department
    • Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center & Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    • Yadlosky is a clinical psychologist specializing in high-risk, multi-problem youth, young adults, and families, particularly those struggling with co-morbid eating disorders. She has extensive experience across outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, and inpatient medical levels of care and is trained in comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia (FBT), and other cognitive-behavioral interventions. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Marquette University, her predoctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center in the child/adolescent specialization, and a clinical and research postdoctoral fellowship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Beyond clinical work, Dr. Yadlosky’s research and advocacy center on health equity, systemic barriers to care, and improving access to evidence-based treatment in underserved communities. She is committed to integrating intersectionality with psychological science and practice, ensuring that treatment is inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse populations.
    • Yadlosky shares this positionality statementwith our audience:
      "I am a white, cisgender, allistic, heterosexual woman from an upper middle-class background who also benefits from able-bodied and thin privilege."

 

  • Alexis D. Richards, MD, MSc
    • Medical Director, Eating Disorder Program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein
    • Associate Program Director, Adolescent Medicine Fellowship
    • Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Montefiore Einstein
    • Alexis Richards is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist dedicated to advancing care for young people with eating disorders, adolescent mental health concerns, and reproductive health needs. Her educational journey includes:
      • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from New York University (2007)
      • Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies at Columbia University (2009)
      • Master of Science in the Control of Infectious Diseases from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2011)
      • Doctor of Medicine from Emory University (2015)
      • Pediatrics residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (2018)
      • Adolescent Medicine fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (2023)

Her clinical expertise spans eating disorders, reproductive health, and adolescent mental health, and she is actively involved in medical education, research, and advocacy. Dr. Richards’ research focuses on sexual and reproductive health and eating disorders, with work published in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national conferences. She also serves as a reviewer for the Maternal and Child Health Journal and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an active member of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine. Through her clinical practice, research, and education efforts, Dr. Richards is committed to improving health outcomes for adolescents and young adults, with a strong focus on equitable access to care.

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Resources & Next Steps:

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Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. There are no other conflicts of interest to disclose.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional.

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