Episode 34: The one about weight loss for chronic illness ft. Anna Sweeney

“Being human means that we are going to experience a plethora of life experiences. Some of us will go through life experiencing relative health through our entire existence. Some will experience disease. All are worthy of respect and care.” - Anna Sweeney, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S

In this week’s episode Hannah and Ali talk all things weight loss for chronic illness. The incredible Anna Sweeney joins the conversation and uses her signature no nonsense approach and her lived experience as a disabled dietitian to answer your most pressing questions about chronic illness.

• Is it okay to pursue weight loss if the goal is to improve my chronic illness?

• A health practitioner has told me to lose 5% of my body weight- how do I do that as a busy mom?

• Should I avoid gluten, sugar, dairy and processed foods if I have chronic fatigue?

• Do healthy food and exercise prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more?

• Isn’t it true that food is medicine?

Struggling with chronic illness can be confusing and scary, and it makes sense to have questions. Spoiler alert: weight loss and dieting are not the answer. Hannah, Ali and Anna will say it loud and say it proud- there is no body size that is exempt from chronic illness and there are no illnesses found exclusively in larger bodies. The wellness industry wants us to blame our bodies and this week’s episode is a one, two punch to knock out that message once and for all.