Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D.

About

Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D., is a Professor in the Health Sciences Department at Northern Arizona University. She teaches courses in nutrition education and counseling and directs a campus-based health coaching program. She conducts research and is an accomplished speaker in the areas of motivational interviewing and weight-inclusive, non-diet approaches to health and wellness. Dr. Clifford is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and is the co-author of Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness and 5-Minute MI: Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Health When Time is Short.

Books by Dawn Clifford, Ph.D., R.D.

Recent Posts

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

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.

Does Your Guilt Trip Help You Reach Your Health Goals?

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.

5 Ways ADHD Disrupts Eating and Body Image

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

The Weight Loss Trap

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.

Is Your Diet Destroying Your Drive?

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.

Leave Diet Culture Behind and Reclaim Your Life

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.

How to Quiet Food Noise Without Medication

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

Trick or Treat? Reclaim the Joy of Eating Sweets

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.

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

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 Risky Business of Weight Loss

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