Words Hold Weight

Body Positivity

5 Things Not to Say About Weight (and What to Say Instead)

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on June 2, 2026

Talking about weight with others may seem like a safe topic, but you never know what others have been through and how your words can impact their health and well-being.

Talking about weight with others may seem like a safe topic, but you never know what others have been through and how your words can impact their health and well-being.

Shame

Does Your Guilt Trip Help You Reach Your Health Goals?

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on May 14, 2026

Calling yourself names for skipping the gym can have a negative impact on health and well-being. Here are three tips for catching and eliminating shame-based thinking.

Calling yourself names for skipping the gym can have a negative impact on health and well-being. Here are three tips for catching and eliminating shame-based thinking.

ADHD

5 Ways ADHD Disrupts Eating and Body Image

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on March 26, 2026

Links between ADHD, disordered eating, and body image may help explain why navigating daily food decisions can feel challenging. These 5 strategies could help.

Links between ADHD, disordered eating, and body image may help explain why navigating daily food decisions can feel challenging. These 5 strategies could help.

Motivation

The Weight Loss Trap

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on February 20, 2026

Paradoxically, your desire to lose weight may be stalling your progress. Here are five signs that your focus on weight loss is sabotaging your attempts at change.

Paradoxically, your desire to lose weight may be stalling your progress. Here are five signs that your focus on weight loss is sabotaging your attempts at change.

Motivation

Is Your Diet Destroying Your Drive?

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on January 19, 2026

Understanding the different types of motivation will help you make sense of why your focus on losing weight may make it hard to stick with your New Year's resolution.

Understanding the different types of motivation will help you make sense of why your focus on losing weight may make it hard to stick with your New Year's resolution.

Diet

Leave Diet Culture Behind and Reclaim Your Life

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on December 22, 2025

Diet culture is the ultimate con artist: It lies about what health looks like, cheats you out of your happiness, and robs you of your time. Thanks, but no thanks, diet culture.

Diet culture is the ultimate con artist: It lies about what health looks like, cheats you out of your happiness, and robs you of your time. Thanks, but no thanks, diet culture.

Appetite

How to Quiet Food Noise Without Medication

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on November 15, 2025

GLP-1 medications silence "food noise" for many, but have high discontinuation rates and significant side effects. Is there a better way?

GLP-1 medications silence "food noise" for many, but have high discontinuation rates and significant side effects. Is there a better way?

Diet

Trick or Treat? Reclaim the Joy of Eating Sweets

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on October 13, 2025

Stressed about sweets this Halloween season? Your stress about sweets may actually be what’s leading you to feel out of control around candy and desserts.

Stressed about sweets this Halloween season? Your stress about sweets may actually be what’s leading you to feel out of control around candy and desserts.

Health

It’s Not About the Weight, It’s About the Weight Stigma

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on September 19, 2025

The recommendation to “just lose weight” can not only be unhelpful but also offensive. In an effort to support patients in improving their health, providers may be doing the opposite.

The recommendation to “just lose weight” can not only be unhelpful but also offensive. In an effort to support patients in improving their health, providers may be doing the opposite.

Health

The Risky Business of Weight Loss

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on August 13, 2025

Before your next weight loss attempt, uncover the risks of dieting that are rarely discussed by health care providers.

Before your next weight loss attempt, uncover the risks of dieting that are rarely discussed by health care providers.

Relationships

How Unsolicited Advice Harms Your Relationships

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on July 14, 2025

"Helpful" advice may actually be ruining your relationships. Discover why unsolicited suggestions often backfire. Learn four tips for providing a more compassionate response.

"Helpful" advice may actually be ruining your relationships. Discover why unsolicited suggestions often backfire. Learn four tips for providing a more compassionate response.

Body Positivity

Confessions of a Former Weight Loss Dietitian

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D. on June 11, 2025

I thought I was helping my clients by helping them lose weight. I had no idea I was setting them up for a life of yo-yo dieting, disordered eating and an emotional rollercoaster.

I thought I was helping my clients by helping them lose weight. I had no idea I was setting them up for a life of yo-yo dieting, disordered eating and an emotional rollercoaster.